lime

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈlīm 

1

: birdlime

2

a

: a caustic highly infusible solid that consists of calcium oxide often together with magnesium oxide, that is obtained by calcining forms of calcium carbonate (such as shells or limestone), and that is used in building (as in mortar and plaster) and in agriculture

called also quicklime

b

: a dry white powder consisting essentially of calcium hydroxide that is made by treating quicklime with water

c

: calcium

carbonate of lime

lime

2 of 5

verb

limed; liming

transitive verb

1

: to smear with a sticky substance (such as birdlime)

2

: to entangle with or as if with birdlime

3

: to treat or cover with lime

lime the lawn in the spring

lime

3 of 5

adjective

: of, relating to, or containing lime or limestone

lime

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a linden tree

especially : linden sense 1a

lime

5 of 5

noun (3)

1

: the small globose yellowish green fruit of a widely cultivated spiny tropical Asian citrus tree (Citrus aurantifolia) with a usually acid juicy pulp used as a flavoring agent and as a source of vitamin C

2

: a tree that bears limes

Examples of lime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Add lime juice, cilantro, paprika and salt; stir to combine. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 5 July 2025

Gently stir together tomatoes, habanero chiles, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, orange juice and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 5 July 2025

Verb

Many gardeners will need to lime soil to raise the pH to around 6.5. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2024

Indeed, of the 180 or so tombs that his team examined at the cemetery, this was the only one that had been limed. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English līm; akin to Old High German līm birdlime, Latin limus mud, slime, and perhaps to Latin linere to smear

Noun (2)

alteration of Middle English lind, from Old English; akin to Old High German linta linden

Noun (3)

Middle French, from Spanish lima, from Arabic līma, līm

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1625, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lime

• chloride of lime
• chlorinated lime
• kaffir lime
• key lime
• key lime pie
• lime glass
• lime green
• lime-juicer
• lime-twig
• soda lime

Rhymes for lime

• chime
• chyme
• climb
• clime
• crime
• dime
• grime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• rhyme
• slime

Kids Definition

lime

1 of 5 noun

ˈlīm 

1

: a white substance that is primarily an oxide of calcium, is made by heating limestone or shells, and is used in making plaster and cement and in farming

2

: a dry white powder consisting chiefly of the hydroxide of calcium that is made by treating lime with water

lime

2 of 5 verb

limed; liming

: to treat or cover with lime

lime a garden

lime

3 of 5 adjective

: of, relating to, or containing lime or limestone

lime

4 of 5 noun

: a European linden tree

lime

5 of 5 noun

: a fruit like the lemon but smaller and with a yellowish green skin

also : the tropical Asian citrus tree that bears limes

Etymology

Noun

Old English lim "substance from limestone"

Noun

Old English lind "linden tree"

Noun

from French lime "the fruit lime"; of Arabic origin

Medical Definition

lime

1 of 2 noun

ˈlīm 

: a caustic powdery white highly infusible solid that consists of calcium oxide often together with magnesia

called also quicklime

see limewater

lime adjective

lime

2 of 2 noun

: the small globose yellowish green fruit of a spiny tropical tree of the genus Citrus (C. aurantifolia) that has a usually acid juicy pulp used as a flavoring agent and as a source of vitamin C

also : a tree that bears limes