lime

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English līm; akin to Old High German līm birdlime, Latin limus mud, slime, and perhaps to Latin linere to smear Date: before 12th century 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 (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

> II. transitive verb (limed; liming) Date: 13th century 1. to smear with a sticky substance (as birdlime) 2. to entangle with or as if with birdlime 3. to treat or cover with lime <

lime the lawn in the spring

> III. adjective Date: 15th century of, relating to, or containing lime or limestone IV. noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English lind, from Old English; akin to Old High German linta linden Date: 1625 a linden tree; especially linden 1a V. noun Etymology: Middle French, from Spanish lima, from Arabic līma, līm Date: 1583 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