What does delimed mean?
Delimed means that lime has been removed from something, most often a citrus fruit used in cooking or food processing. The term is especially associated with lemons and limes whose juice or zest has been taken away, although it can also refer more generally to fruit from which lime has been removed. “Delimed” describes the condition of the fruit rather than the act of removing the lime: one might say that a recipe requires “delimed lemons” or that a processor uses “delimed citrus.” The word is uncommon outside specialist or technical contexts, but it is useful when a distinction matters between fruit that has simply been cut and fruit whose lime has been extracted. In ordinary conversation, saying “squeezed lemons” or “juiced citrus” may sound more natural and immediately understandable.
Having had lime removed from it.
"The chef added delimed oranges to the salad."
Commonly used of citrus fruit that has been juiced, squeezed, or otherwise stripped of its lime.
Removed the lime from something.
"The processor delimed the lemons before packing them."
This is the past tense and past participle of the rare verb delime.
Delimed is a specialist food-preparation term: it describes citrus fruit after its lime has been removed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of delimed
Delimed is formed from the prefix de-, meaning removal or reversal, and the noun lime, the citrus fruit. The related verb delime means to remove lime from something. The form “delimed” also functions as the past tense and past participle of that verb, so its grammatical role depends on the sentence in which it appears.
How delimed is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon, largely technical word used in food preparation and food processing. It is usually used with citrus fruits, especially lemons or limes, and is more specific than simply saying that fruit has been squeezed.