lime sulfur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical, Horticultural
Quick answer
What does “lime sulfur” mean?
A chemical compound consisting of calcium polysulfides, primarily used as a fungicide and pesticide in horticulture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical compound consisting of calcium polysulfides, primarily used as a fungicide and pesticide in horticulture.
A broad-spectrum horticultural spray used to control fungal diseases, mites, and insects; historically also used in veterinary medicine and leather processing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English spelling: 'lime sulphur'; American English spelling: 'lime sulfur'.
Connotations
The term has exclusively technical/horticultural connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both variants, used almost exclusively in gardening, agriculture, and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “lime sulfur” in a Sentence
[SUBJ: Gardener] + apply/spray + [OBJ: lime sulphur] + on/to [TARGET: plant/tree][SUBJ: Lime sulphur] + control/kill + [OBJ: fungus/mite]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lime sulfur” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The lime-sulphur mixture was prepared fresh.
- A lime-sulphur treatment is recommended.
American English
- The lime-sulfur solution must be diluted.
- Follow the lime-sulfur application schedule.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the horticultural supply and organic farming industries.
Academic
Found in botany, plant pathology, and agricultural chemistry texts.
Everyday
Virtually unused outside of serious gardening circles.
Technical
Standard term in integrated pest management (IPM), arboriculture, and viticulture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lime sulfur”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lime sulfur”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lime sulfur”
- Incorrectly treating it as two separate words ('lime and sulphur').
- Confusing it with 'hydrated lime' or 'flowers of sulphur'.
- Misspelling 'sulfur/sulphur'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I will lime sulphur the tree').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is permitted in many organic farming regimens because it is derived from natural minerals (limestone and sulfur), though its use is often restricted due to potency.
Yes, if used at the wrong strength or during active growth (especially in hot weather), it can cause phytotoxicity, damaging leaves and fruit.
It has a very strong, pungent odor of rotten eggs due to the sulfur compounds, which is one of its least pleasant characteristics.
No, they are different. Bordeaux mixture is copper sulfate and lime (calcium hydroxide), whereas lime sulphur is calcium polysulfides. Both are fungicides.
A chemical compound consisting of calcium polysulfides, primarily used as a fungicide and pesticide in horticulture.
Lime sulfur is usually technical, horticultural in register.
Lime sulfur: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪm ˈsʌl.fə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪm ˈsʌl.fɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LIME' as in limestone (calcium) + 'SULPHUR' (the yellow element) = a yellow spray made from boiling the two together.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A CLEANSING WASH (e.g., 'The lime sulphur washed away the mildew').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary use of lime sulphur?