# lime

> English word · Noun · IPA /laɪm/ · frequency rank #8,814

## Definitions
1. Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).
2. Any gluey or adhesive substance that traps or captures; sometimes a synonym for birdlime.
3. A limelight; any spotlight.

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **LM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lm)
- **lit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lit)
- **lip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lip)
- **Liz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-liz)
- **lin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lin)
- **Liu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-liu)
- **Liv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-liv)
- **lis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lis)
- **lye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lye)
- **lum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lum)
- **love** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-love)
- **live** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-live)
- **line** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-line)
- **list** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-list)
- **lose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lose)
- **link** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-link)
- **Luke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-luke)
- **lips** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lips)
- **Lisa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lisa)
- **lion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lime-vs-lion)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ilme`, `liem`, `limme`, `llime`, `lmie`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lime