limewater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific / Specialized
Quick answer
What does “limewater” mean?
A saturated aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, used in chemistry and medicine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A saturated aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, used in chemistry and medicine.
In general terms, it refers to any water that has been treated with lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) for purposes such as reducing acidity, purification, or historical construction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in spelling and technical meaning between British and American English. No usage differences exist.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. May evoke school science experiments (testing for carbon dioxide) or historical building techniques (e.g., lime mortar).
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK historical/architectural contexts discussing 'lime wash' or 'lime plaster'.
Grammar
How to Use “limewater” in a Sentence
The limewater turned cloudy.We tested the gas with limewater.The water was treated with limewater.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “limewater” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mason will limewash the wall. (Related, but not 'limewater' as a verb.)
American English
- They needed to lime the soil to adjust its pH. (Related, but not 'limewater' as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No adverbial form.
American English
- Not applicable. No adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The limewater test is a classic school experiment.
American English
- We followed the limewater test procedure from the manual.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contexts of water treatment, construction materials, or agricultural soil amendment.
Academic
Common in chemistry textbooks and lab manuals for the classic carbon dioxide test.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in chemistry, environmental engineering, and traditional building conservation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “limewater”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “limewater”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “limewater”
- Confusing it with 'lime juice' or 'lime cordial'.
- Misspelling as 'lime water' (open compound) is common but the closed form 'limewater' is standard for the chemical.
- Assuming it is a drink.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a caustic alkaline solution (calcium hydroxide) and is not for consumption. It is used in small quantities in some traditional food preparations (like nixtamalization of corn), but not as a beverage.
It turns cloudy when carbon dioxide (CO2) is bubbled through it. A chemical reaction forms insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles, which make the solution appear milky.
Yes. Limewater is a clear, saturated solution of calcium hydroxide in water. Milk of lime is a suspension of excess calcium hydroxide solids in water, giving it a white, milky appearance.
'Lime' is the common historical name for calcium oxide (quicklime) and calcium hydroxide (slaked lime). The term 'limewater' is traditional and predates modern systematic chemical nomenclature.
A saturated aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, used in chemistry and medicine.
Limewater is usually technical / scientific / specialized in register.
Limewater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪmˌwɔːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪmˌwɔːtər/ /ˈlaɪmˌwɑːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a literal, technical compound noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of LIMEstone + WATER. Limestone is turned into lime, which is mixed with water to make limewater—a key liquid in chemistry and old-fashioned building.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CLEAR WITNESS: Limewater is conceptually a 'witness' or 'detector' (for carbon dioxide), turning cloudy as evidence of a reaction.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you LEAST likely to encounter the term 'limewater'?