1. CaO; an alkaline earth oxide occurring in grayish white masses (quicklime); on exposure to the atmosphere it becomes converted into calcium hydrate and calcium carbonate (air-slaked l.); direct addition of water to calcium oxide produces calcium hydrate (slaked l.). SYN: calcium oxide, calx (1). 2. Fruit of the l. tree, Citrus medica (family Rutaceae), which is a source of ascorbic acid and acts as an antiscorbutic agent. [O.E. lim, birdlime]
- air-slaked l. l. (1).
- chlorinated l. a mixture of varying proportions of complexes of chlorine with calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide. Contains 24–37% available chlorine. Decomposes in moist conditions to liberate chlorine. Strong irritant due to chlorine vapors. Used for disinfecting drinking water, sewage etc.; in the bleaching of wood pulp, linen, cotton, straw, oils, soaps, and laundry; as an oxidizer; in destroying caterpillars; and as a decontaminant for mustard gas and similar substances. SYN: bleaching powder.
- slaked l. l. (1).
- sulfurated l. SYN: crude calcium sulfide.
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Leeds interactive medical education [UK]
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lime 'līm n a caustic powdery white highly infusible solid that consists of calcium oxide often together with magnesia called also quicklime see LIMEWATER
lime adj
lime n the small globose yellowish green fruit of a spiny tropical tree of the genus Citrus (C. aurantifolia) that has a usu. acid juicy pulp used as a flavoring agent and as a source of vitamin C also a tree that bears limes
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(līm) [L. calx] 1. calcium oxide. 2. [USP] a preparation of calcium oxide used as a pharmaceutical necessity. 3. Citrus aurantifolia. 4. the acid fruit of C. aurantifolia, whose juice contains ascorbic acid; used as an antiscorbutic.Medical dictionary. 2011.