Lye Meaning
/laɪ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn alkaline liquid made by leaching ashes (usually wood ashes).
nounPotassium or sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).
Sentence Examples
Lye is a key ingredient in the soap-making process.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In soap making, a strong alkali called ____ is used to react with fats.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a strong chemical substance that is often used in the making of traditional soap and cleaners.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English leye, lye, from Old English lēah, lēag (“lye”), from Proto-West Germanic *laugu, from Proto-Germanic *laugō, from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- (“to wash”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Loge, Looie (“lye”), Dutch loog (“lye”), German Low German Loge, Loje, Loog (“lye”), German Lauge (“lye”). Compare typologically Ancient Greek ῥύμμα (rhúmma) < ῥύπτω (rhúptō, “to cleanse, to wash”); Russian м́ыло (ḿylo) (a nomen instrumenti of мыть (mytʹ)).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"She had not left the lye in too long so that the hair would fall out in clumps later."
— 2019, Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift, Hogarth, page 372:
"Now negligent of sports I lye,
And now as other Fawkners use,
I spring a mistresse, sweare, write, sigh and weepe:
And the game kill'd, or lost, goe talk, and sleepe."
— 1654, John Donne, Loves Diet:
"But when his foe lyes proſtrate on the plain,
He ſheaths his paws, uncurls his angry mane;
And, pleas'd with bloudleſs honours of the day,
Walks over, and diſdains th' inglorious Prey,[…]"
— 1687, [John Dryden], “The Third Part”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 88:
"Brakevan lye. [same page in the main text] There is also an inclined lye for brakevans at each end of the yard."
— 1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—II: The new Perth marshalling yard”, in Modern Railways, page 273, photo caption with indicating arrow:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In soap making, a strong alkali called ____ is used to react with fats.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
____ is a strong chemical substance that is often used in the making of traditional soap and cleaners.