1. [n]  the green acidic fruit of any of various lime trees
2. [n]  any of various deciduous trees of the genus Tilia heart-shaped leaves and drooping cymose clusters of yellowish often fragrant flowers; several yield valuable timber
3. [n]  any of various related trees bearing limes
4. [n]  a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
5. [n]  a white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide
6. [n]  a caustic substance (Ca(OH)2) produced by heating limestone
7. [v]  cover with lime, as of lawns, to induce growth
8. [v]  spread birdlime on branches to catch birds

1. \Lime\ (l[imac]m), n. [See {Leam} a string.]
   A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. --Halliwell.
   
   

2. \Lime\, n. [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See {Linden}.]
   (Bot.)
   The linden tree. See {Linden}.
   
   

3. \Lime\, n. [F. lime; of Persian origin. See {Lemon}.]
   (Bot.)
   A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree
   which bears it. There are two kinds; {Citrus Medica}, var.
   acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime ({C.
   Medica}, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.
   
   

4. \Lime\, n. [AS. l[=i]m; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG.
   l[=i]m, Icel. l[=i]m, Sw. lim, Dan. liim, L. limus mud,
   linere to smear, and E. loam. [root]126. Cf. {Loam},
   {Liniment}.]
   1. Birdlime.
   
            Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with.
                                                  --Wordsworth.
   
   2. (Chem.) Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic
      substance, usually called {quicklime}, obtained by
      calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon
      dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when
      treated with water, forming slacked lime,
   
   

5. \Lime\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Limed} (l[imac]md); p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Liming}.] [Cf. AS. gel[=i]man to glue or join
   together. See {Lime} a viscous substance.]
   1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime.
   
            These twigs, in time, will come to be limed.
                                                  --L'Estrange.
   
   2. To entangle; to insnare.
   
            We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must
            take the chance.                      --Tennyson.
   
   3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to
      manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair;
      to lime sails in order to whiten them.
   
            Land may be improved by draining, marling, and
            liming.                               --Sir J.
                                                  Child.
   
   4. To cement. ``Who gave his blood to lime the stones
      together.'' --Shak.
   
   
   
   

The Hebrew word so rendered means "boiling" or "effervescing." From Isa. 33:12 it appears that lime was made in a kiln lighted by thorn-bushes. In Amos 2:1 it is recorded that the king of Moab "burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime." The same Hebrew word is used in Deut. 27:2-4, and is there rendered "plaster." Limestone is the chief constituent of the mountains of Syria.