lime
lime [lime limes limed liming] noun, verb BrE [laɪm] NAmE [laɪm]
noun 
1. (also quick·lime)uncountable a white substance obtained by heating ↑limestone, used in building materials and to help plants grow
2. countable, uncountable a small green fruit, like a lemon, with a lot of sour juice, used in cooking and in drinks; the juice of this fruit
•lime juice
•slices of lime
3. (also ˈlime tree)countable a tree on which limes grow
4. (also ˈlime tree, ˈlinden tree, linden)countable a large tree with light green heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers
•an avenue of limes
5. uncountable = ↑lime green
Word Origin:
n. sense 1 and v. Old English līm Germanic Dutch lijm German Leim ↑loamn. senses 2 to 3 mid 17th cent. French Provençal limo Spanish lima Arabic līma ↑lemonsense 4 early 17th cent. line Old English lind ‘lime tree’
Example Bank:
•Serve the dish garnished with wedges of lime.
verb ~ sth
to add the substance ↑lime to soil, especially in order to control the acid in it
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
n. sense 1 and v. Old English līm Germanic Dutch lijm German Leim ↑loamn. senses 2 to 3 mid 17th cent. French Provençal limo Spanish lima Arabic līma ↑lemonsense 4 early 17th cent. line Old English lind ‘lime tree’
See also: ↑lime tree ▪ ↑linden ▪ ↑quicklime
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