lime

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
  2. noun a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide
  3. noun a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds

Etymology

From Middle English lyme, lym, lime, from Old English līm, from Proto-West Germanic *līm, from Proto-Germanic *līmaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- (“to smear”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Liem (“glue”), Dutch lijm, German Leim (“glue”), Danish lim (from Old Norse lím), Latin limus (“mud”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

calcium hydroxide, slaked lime, hydrated lime, calcium hydrate, caustic lime, lime hydrate

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