Chapter 86

||Lig"u*la (lg"*l), n.; pl. L. Ligulæ (- l), E. Ligulas (-lz). [L., a ||little tongue. See Ligule.] 1. (Bot.) See Ligule. || 2. (Zoöl.) (a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of insects. It sometimes serves as a tongue or proboscis, as in bees. [See Illust. under Labium, and Hymenoptera.] (b) A tongue-shaped lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See Parapodium.

{ Lig"u*late (lg"*lt), Lig"u*la`ted (-l`td), } a. [Cf. F. ligulé. See Ligule, and cf. Lingulate.]

1. (Bot.) Like a bandage, or strap; strap-shaped.

2. Composed of ligules.

Ligulate flower, a species of compound flower, the florets of which have their corollets flat, spreading out toward the end, with the base only tubular.

Lig"ule (-l), n. [L. ligula, lingula, little tongue, dim. of lingua tongue : cf. F. ligule.]

1. (Bot.) (a) The thin and scarious projection from the upper end of the sheath of a leaf of grass. (b) A strap-shaped corolla of flowers of Compositæ.

2. (Anat.) A band of white matter in the wall of fourth ventricle of the brain.

Lig`u*li*flo"rous (lg`*l*fl"rs), a. [Ligule + L. flos, floris, a flower.] (Bot.) Bearing only ligulate flowers; -- said of a large suborder of composite plants, such as the dandelion, lettuce, hawkweed, etc.

Lig"ure (lg"r; 277), n. [L. ligurius, Gr. ligy`rion, liggoy`rion, ligkoy`rion, lygkoy`rion, equiv. to Heb. leshem.] A kind of precious stone.

The third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

Ex. xxviii. 19.

Li*gus"trin (l*gs"trn), n. (Chem.) A bitter principle found in the bark of the privet (Ligustrum vulgare), and extracted as a white crystalline substance with a warm, bitter taste; -- called also ligustron.

Lik"a*ble (lk"*b'l), a. Such as can be liked; such as to attract liking; as, a likable person. Thackeray.

Like (lk), a. [Compar. Liker (lk"r); superl. Likest.] [OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gelc, fr. pref. ge- + lc body, and orig. meaning, having the same body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS. gilk, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gilh, Icel. lkr, glkr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D. lijk, G. leiche, Icel. lk, Sw. lik, Goth. leik. The English adverbial ending-ly is from the same adjective. Cf. Each, Such, Which.] 1. Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; -- often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character.

'T is as like you As cherry is to cherry.

Shak.

Like master, like man.

Old Prov.

He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.

Ps. cxlvii. 16.

To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted.

2. Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent.

More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before.

Sprat.

3. Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely. [Likely is more used now.] Shak.

But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices.

South.

Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules.

Clarendon.

4. Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk.

Had like (followed by the infinitive), had nearly; came little short of.

Had like to have been my utter overthrow.

Sir W. Raleigh

Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . . . but recollected herself in time.

Mrs. H. H. Jackson.

Like figures (Geom.), similar figures.

Like is used as a suffix, converting nouns into adjectives expressing resemblance to the noun; as, manlike, like a man; childlike, like a child; godlike, like a god, etc. Such compounds are readily formed whenever convenient, and several, as crescentlike, serpentlike, hairlike, etc., are used in this book, although, in some cases, not entered in the vocabulary. Such combinations as bell-like, ball- like, etc., are hyphened.

Like, n. 1. That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy.

He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.

Shak.

2. A liking; a preference; inclination; -- usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes.

Like, adv. [AS. gelce. See Like, a.] 1. In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him.

He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Job xii. 25.

Like, as here used, is regarded by some grammarians as a preposition.

2. In a like or similar manner. Shak.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

Ps. ciii. 13.

3. Likely; probably. "Like enough it will." Shak.

Like, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liked (lkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Liking.] [OE. liken to please, AS. lcian, gelcian, fr. gelc. See Like, a.] 1. To suit; to please; to be agreeable to. [Obs.]

Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there.

R. of Gloucester.

I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy.

He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving.

Sir P. Sidney.

3. To liken; to compare.[Obs.]

Like me to the peasant boys of France.

Shak.

Like (lk), v. i. 1. To be pleased; to choose.

He may either go or stay, as he best likes.

Locke.

2. To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition). [Obs.]

You like well, and bear your years very well.

Shak.

3. To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly; as, he liked to have been too late. Cf. Had like, under Like, a. [Colloq.]

He probably got his death, as he liked to have done two years ago, by viewing the troops for the expedition from the wall of Kensington Garden.

Walpole.

To like of, to be pleased with. [Obs.] Massinger.

Like"a*ble (lk"*b'l), a. See Likable.

Like"hood (-hd), n. Likelihood. [Obs.] South.

Like"li*hood (-l*hd), n. [Likely + -hood.] 1. Appearance; show; sign; expression. [Obs.]

What of his heart perceive you in his face By any likelihood he showed to-day ?

Shak.

2. Likeness; resemblance. [Obs.]

There is no likelihood between pure light and black darkness, or between righteousness and reprobation.

Sir W. Raleigh.

3. Appearance of truth or reality; probability; verisimilitude. Tennyson.

Like"li*ness, n. 1. Likelihood; probability.

2. Suitableness; agreeableness. [Obs.]

Like"ly, a. [Compar. Likelier (lk"l*r); superl. Likeliest.] [That is, like- like. See Like, a.] 1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story.

It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous.

Johnson.

2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; -- followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain.

3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] Spenser.

4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. Shak. Milton.

5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant.

Like"ly, adv. In all probability; probably.

While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know.

Glanvill.

Like"-mind`ed (-mnd`d), a. Having a like disposition or purpose; of the same mind. Tillotson.

Lik"en (lk"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Likened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Likening.] [OE. liknen. See Like, a.]

1. To allege, or think, to be like; to represent as like; to compare; as, to liken life to a pilgrimage.

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.

Matt. vii. 24.

2. To make or cause to be like. [R.] Brougham.

Like"ness, n. [AS. gelcnes.] 1. The state or quality of being like; similitude; resemblance; similarity; as, the likeness of the one to the other is remarkable.

2. Appearance or form; guise.

An enemy in the likeness of a friend.

L'Estrange.

3. That which closely resembles; a portrait.

[How he looked] the likenesses of him which still remain enable us to imagine.

Macaulay.

4. A comparison; parable; proverb. [Obs.]

He said to them, Soothly ye shall say to me this likeness, Leech, heal thyself.

Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).

Syn. -- Similarity; parallel; similitude; representation; portrait; effigy.

{Lik"er*ous (lk"r*s), a., Lik"er*ous*ness, n. } [Obs.] See Lickerish, Lickerishness. Chaucer.

Like"wise` (lk"wz`), adv. & conj. [See Wise, n.] In like manner; also; moreover; too. See Also.

Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke x. 37.

For he seeth that wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish person perish.

Ps. xlix. 10.

Lik"ing (lk"ng), p. a. Looking; appearing; as, better or worse liking. See Like, to look. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort ?

Dan. i. 10.

Lik"ing, n. 1. The state of being pleasing; a suiting. See On liking, below. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. The state of being pleased with, or attracted toward, some thing or person; hence, inclination; desire; pleasure; preference; -- often with for, formerly with to; as, it is an amusement I have no liking for.

If the human intellect hath once taken a liking to any doctrine, . . . it draws everything else into harmony with that doctrine, and to its support.

Bacon.

3. Appearance; look; figure; state of body as to health or condition. [Archaic]

I shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking.

Shak.

Their young ones are in good liking.

Job. xxxix. 4.

On liking, on condition of being pleasing to or suiting; also, on condition of being pleased with; as, to hold a place of service on liking; to engage a servant on liking. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line . . . to be a king on liking and on sufferance ?

Hazlitt.

Li"lac (l"lak), n. [Also lilach.] [Sp. lilac, lila, Ar. llak, fr. Per. llaj, llanj, llang, nlaj, nl, the indigo plant, or from the kindred llak bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf. Anil.] 1. (Bot.) A shrub of the genus Syringa. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and S. Persica, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.

2. A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac.

California lilac (Bot.), a low shrub with dense clusters of purplish flowers (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).

Lil"a*cin (ll"*sn), n. (Chem.) See Syringin.

Lil`i*a"ceous (ll`*"shs), a. [L. liliaceus, fr. lilium lily. See Lily.] (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to a natural order of which the lily, tulip, and hyacinth are well-known examples. (b) Like the blossom of a lily in general form.

Lil"i*al (ll"*al), a. (Bot.) Having a general resemblance to lilies or to liliaceous plants.

Lil"ied (ll"d), a. Covered with, or having many, lilies.

By sandy Ladon's lilied banks.

Milton.

Lill (ll), v. i. To loll. [Obs. or Prov.] Spenser.

Lil`li*pu"tian (ll`l*p"shan), n. 1. One belonging to a very diminutive race described in Swift's "Voyage to Lilliput."

2. Hence: A person or thing of very small size.

Lil`li*pu"tian, a. 1. Of or pertaining to the imaginary island of Lilliput described by Swift, or to its inhabitants.

2. Hence: Of very small size; diminutive; dwarfed.

Lil"ly-pil`ly (ll"l- pl`l), n. (Bot.) An Australian myrtaceous tree (Eugenia Smithii), having smooth ovate leaves, and panicles of small white flowers. The wood is hard and fine-grained.

Lilt (llt), v. i. [Cf. Norw. lilla, lirla, to sing in a high tone.] 1. To do anything with animation and quickness, as to skip, fly, or hop. [Prov. Eng.] Wordsworth.

2. To sing cheerfully. [Scot.]

Lilt, v. t. To utter with spirit, animation, or gayety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.

A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, With scraps of thundrous epic lilted out By violet-hooded doctors.

Tennyson.

Lilt, n. 1. Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.

The movement, the lilt, and the subtle charm of the verse.

F. Harrison.

2. A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.

The housewife went about her work, or spun at her wheel, with a lilt upon her lips.

J. C. Shairp.

Lil"y (ll"), n.; pl. Lilies (-z). [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. lei`rion. Cf. Flower-de- luce.]

1. (Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three- celled ovary.

There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and L. longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; L. Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States; L. Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord's parable; L. auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan.

2. (Bot.) A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc.

3. That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; -- so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.

But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.

Sir T. Browne.

African lily (Bot.), the blue- flowered Agapanthus umbellatus. -- Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Z. Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. Gray. -- Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry. -- Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum. See Illust. -- Butterfly lily. (Bot.) Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary. -- Lily beetle (Zool.), a European beetle (Crioceris merdigera) which feeds upon the white lily. -- Lily daffodil (Bot.), a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower. -- Lily encrinite (Paleon.), a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite. -- Lily hyacinth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hyacinthus. -- Lily iron, a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish. -- Lily of the valley (Bot.), a low perennial herb (Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers. -- Lily pad, the large floating leaf of the water lily. [U. S.] Lowell. -- Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black. -- Turk's-cap lily (Bot.), Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, L. superbum. -- Water lily (Bot.), the Nymphæa, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphæa.]

Lil"y-hand`ed (-hnd`d), a. Having white, delicate hands.

Lil"y-liv`ered (-lv`rd), a. White-livered; cowardly.

Lil"y*wort` (-wûrt`), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the Lily family or order. Lindley.

Lim (lm), n. [See Limb.] A limb. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Li"ma (l"m or l"m), n. The capital city of Peru, in South America.

Lima bean. (Bot.) (a) A variety of climbing or pole bean (Phaseolus lunatus), which has very large flattish seeds. (b) The seed of this plant, much used for food. -- Lima wood (Bot.), the beautiful dark wood of the South American tree Cæsalpinia echinata.

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Li*ma"ceous (l*m"shs), a. [L. limax, limacis, slug, snail: cf. F. limacé.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or like, Limax, or the slugs.

||Lim`a*ci"na (lm`*s"n), n. [NL., from L. limax, limacis, a slug.] ||(Zoöl.) A genus of small spiral pteropods, common in the Arctic and ||Antarctic seas. It contributes to the food of the right whales. || ||Li`ma`çon" (l`m`sôN"), n. [F. limaçon, lit., a snail.] (Geom.) A ||curve of the fourth degree, invented by Pascal. Its polar equation is ||r = a cos &theta; + b. || Li"maille (l"ml; F. l`mä"y'), n. [F., fr. limer to file. See Limation.] Filings of metal. [Obs.] "An ounce . . . of silver lymaille." Chaucer.

Li"man (l"man), n. [F. limon, fr. L. limus slime.] The deposit of slime at the mouth of a river; slime.

Li*ma"tion (l*m"shn), n. [L. limatus, p. p. of limare to file, fr. lima file : cf. F. limation.] The act of filing or polishing.

Li"ma*ture (l"m*tr; 135), n. [L. limatura. See Limation.] 1. The act of filing.

2. That which is filed off; filings. Johnson.

||Li"max (l"mks), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) A genus of airbreathing mollusks, ||including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary ||shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several ||species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug. || Limb (lm), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. lið, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. liþus. Cf. Lith, Limber.] 1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.

2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.

A second Hector for his grim aspect, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.

Shak.

3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else. Shak.

That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows.

Sir W. Scott.

4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.

Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law. [Colloq.] Landor.

Limb, v. t. 1. To supply with limbs. [R.] Milton.

2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.

Limb, n. [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.] A border or edge, in certain special uses. (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.

Lim"bat (lm"bt), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A cooling periodical wind in the Isle of Cyprus, blowing from the northwest from eight o'clock, A. M., to the middle of the day or later.

Lim"bate (lm"bt), a. [L. limbatus, fr. limbus border, edge. See Limbus.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Bordered, as when one color is surrounded by an edging of another.

Lim"bec (-bk), n. [Abbrev. of alembic.] An alembic; a still. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.

Lim"bec, v. t. To distill. [Obs.] Dryden.

Limbed (lmd), a. Having limbs; -- much used in composition; as, large-limbed; short-limbed.

Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, Limbed and full grown.

Milton.

Lim"ber (lm"br), n. [For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of lim; akin to E. limb. See Limb a branch.] 1. pl. The shafts or thills of a wagon or carriage. [Prov. Eng.]

2. (Mil.) The detachable fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which the cannoneers sit.

3. pl. (Naut.) Gutters or conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to the pump well.

Limber boards (Naut.), short pieces of plank forming part of the lining of a ship's floor immediately above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming clogged. -- Limber box or chest (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. -- Limber rope, Limber chain, or Limber clearer (Naut.), a rope or chain passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared of dirt that chokes them. Totten. -- Limber strake (Shipbuilding), the first course of inside planking next the keelson.

Lim"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limbered (-brd); p. pr. & vb. n. Limbering.] (Mil.) To attach to the limber; as, to limber a gun.

To limber up, to change a gun carriage into a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber.

Lim"ber, a. [Akin to limp, a. &radic;125. See Limp, a.] Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. Milton.

The bargeman that doth row with long and limber oar.

Turbervile.

Lim"ber, v. t. To cause to become limber; to make flexible or pliant. Richardson.

Lim"ber*ness, n. The quality or state of being limber; flexibleness. Boyle.

Limb"less (lm"ls), a. Destitute of limbs.

Limb"meal` (-ml`), adv. [See Limb, and Piecemeal.] Piecemeal. [Obs.] "To tear her limbmeal." Shak.

{ Lim"bo (lm"b), Lim"bus (- bs), } n. [L. limbus border, edge, in limbo on the border. Cf. Limb border.] 1. (Scholastic Theol.) An extramundane region where certain classes of souls were supposed to await the judgment.

As far from help as Limbo is from bliss.

Shak.

A Limbo large and broad, since called The Paradise of fools.

Milton.

The limbus patrum was considered as a place for the souls of good men who lived before the coming of our Savior. The limbus infantium was said to be a similar place for the souls of unbaptized infants. To these was added, in the popular belief, the limbus fatuorum, or fool's paradise, regarded as a receptacle of all vanity and nonsense.

2. Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as, to put a man in limbo.

3. (Anat.) A border or margin; as, the limbus of the cornea.

Lim"bous (lm"bs), a. [See Limbus.] (Anat.) With slightly overlapping borders; -- said of a suture.

Lime (lm), n. [See Leam a string.] A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.

Lime, n. [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.] (Bot.) The linden tree. See Linden.

Lime, n. [F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.] (Bot.) A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime (C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.

Lime, n. [AS. lm; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. lm, Icel. lm, Sw. lim, Dan. liim, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. &radic;126. Cf. Loam, Liniment.] 1. Birdlime.

Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with.

Wordsworth.

2. (Chem.) Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc.

Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk, bones, shells, etc.

Caustic lime, calcium hydrate or slacked lime; also, in a less technical sense, calcium oxide or quicklime. -- Lime burner, one who burns limestone, shells, etc., to make lime. -- Lime light. See Calcium light, under Calcium. -- Lime pit, a limestone quarry. -- Lime rod, Lime twig, a twig smeared with birdlime; hence, that which catches; a snare. Chaucer.

Lime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limed (lmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Liming.] [Cf. AS. gelman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.] 1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime.

These twigs, in time, will come to be limed.

L'Estrange.

2. To entangle; to insnare.

We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance.

Tennyson.

3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them.

Land may be improved by draining, marling, and liming.

Sir J. Child.

4. To cement. "Who gave his blood to lime the stones together." Shak.

Lime"hound` (lm"hound`), n. [Lime a leash + hound.] A dog used in hunting the wild boar; a leamer. Spenser.

Lime"kiln` (lm"kln`), n. A kiln or furnace in which limestone or shells are burned and reduced to lime.

Li*men"e*an (l*mn"*an), a. Of or pertaining to Lima, or to the inhabitants of Lima, in Peru. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Lima.

Lim"er (lm"r), n. A limehound; a limmer. Chaucer.

Lime"stone` (lm"stn`), n. A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.