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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Lime


LIME, noun [Latin limus; Gr. and allied to clammy. On this word is formed slime.]

1. A viscous substance, sometimes laid on twigs for catching birds.

2. Calcarious earth, oxyd of calcium, procured from chalk and certain stones and shells, by expelling from them the carbonic acid, by means of a strong heat in a furnace. The best lime for mortar or cement is obtained from limestone, or carbonate of lime of which marble is a fine species.

3. The linden tree.

4. [See Lemon.] A species of acid fruit, smaller than the lemon.

LIME, verb transitive

1. To smear with a viscous substance.

2. To entangle; to ensnare.

3. To manure with lime

Land may be improved by draining, marling and liming.

4. To cement.