lime — a small, round, green citrus fruit with a sour taste, used for flavoring food and drinks
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a small, round, green citrus fruit with a sour taste, used for flavoring food and drinks
Pronunciation (IPA): /laɪm/
Example Sentences
- My little brother bit into a whole lime, thinking it was a green orange — his face said everything.
- The bartender added a lime wedge to the sparkling water for extra flavor.
- She wore a lime-green dress that made her stand out at the party.
lime
NOUN[/laɪm/]
a small, round, green citrus fruit with a sour taste, used for flavoring food and drinks
She squeezed fresh lime over the fish tacos.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'lime' entered English in the 17th century from French 'lime', derived from Arabic 'līma' or Persian 'līmū', originally denoting citrus fruits in general. English subsequently specialized the term to refer specifically to the small green citrus fruit, distinguishing it from the yellow lemon.
Breakdown
Arabic līma (citrus fruit) → French lime → English lime. The term underwent semantic narrowing in English from a general citrus designation to a specific fruit variety.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother bit into a whole lime, thinking it was a green orange — his face said everything.”
“The bartender added a lime wedge to the sparkling water for extra flavor.”
“She wore a lime-green dress that made her stand out at the party.”
“Key lime pie is famous in Florida, and yes, it's made from actual limes, not just food coloring.”
“Please pick up some limes at the store; we're out of them for tonight's tacos.”
📚Related Words
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