key lime

noun

A small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.

Similar
acid lime
OriginSpanish cayo →
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Meanings

key lime1

nounkey lime (plural key limes)

plural key limes

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Key lime.

Key lime2

nounKey lime (plural Key limes)

plural Key limes · alternative key lime

  1. A small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.

    Synonyms: acid lime

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.

Similar
acid lime
Also see
acid lime

Origin

  1. Spanishcayo
  2. EnglishKey lime

From Keys (“the Florida Keys”), from key (“an island in a chain of islands”), variant of cay, from Spanish cayo.

More words from Spanish

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 墨西哥萊檬 /墨西哥莱檬
  • 墨西哥萊檬 /墨西哥莱檬 (Mòxīgē láiméng)Citrus × aurantifolia
Finnish limetti
  • limettiCitrus × aurantifolia
Hindi काग़ज़ी नींबू
  • काग़ज़ी नींबू (kāġzī nīmbū)Citrus × aurantifolia
Icelandic súraldin
  • súraldinCitrus × aurantifolia
Italian lime, lima
  • limeCitrus × aurantifolia
  • limaCitrus × aurantifolia
  • limettaCitrus × aurantifolia
Portuguese limão-galego
  • limão-galegoCitrus × aurantifolia
Cite this entry
APA

key lime. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20lime

MLA

“key lime.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20lime. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “key lime,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20lime.

Source: key lime on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.