lye

lye

noun \ˈlī\

Definition of LYE

1

: a strong alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate leached from wood ashes and used especially in making soap and for washing; broadly : a strong alkaline solution (as of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide)

2

: a solid caustic (as sodium hydroxide)

Origin of LYE

Middle English, from Old English lēag; akin to Old High German louga lye, Latin lavare, lavere to wash, Greek louein

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with LYE

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, I, lie, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

lye

noun \ˈlī\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LYE

1

: a strong alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate leached from wood ashes and used especially in making soap and washing; broadly : a strong alkaline solution (as of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide)

2

: a solid caustic (as sodium hydroxide)

lye

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Alkaline (see alkali) liquid extracted by soaking wood ashes in water, commonly used for washing and in making soap. More generally, lye is any strong alkaline solution or solid, such as sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) or potassium hydroxide (caustic potash).