lye

IPA/laɪ/
KK[lˈaɪ]IPA/laɪ/

lye — noun

  • lyesingular
  • lyesplural

1. A strongly alkaline compound — most often sodium hydroxide, but sometimes potass

1.名詞B2
釋義

A strongly alkaline compound — most often sodium hydroxide, but sometimes potassium hydroxide — that can dissolve grease and oils. People have used it for generations to make soap, clear blocked drains, and prepare certain foods such as olives.

例句

Lien's grandmother showed her how to make soap by mixing lye with melted fat.

traditional use: soap-making with lye

Gabriel wore thick rubber gloves when he stirred the lye into the water.

safety: wear protective gear with lye

同義詞
  • sodium hydroxide

    the formal chemical name for the most common commercial form of lye

  • caustic soda

    the industrial and common name for sodium hydroxide; widely used in factories and cleaning products

  • potassium hydroxide

    a different alkali also called lye when used in liquid soap and traditional food preparation

反義詞
  • acid

    the chemical opposite of an alkali on the pH scale

用法筆記

Lye is a caustic substance that can burn skin and eyes on contact. It is always handled with protective gloves and goggles. This word is uncountable — you say a bar of lye or a lye solution, not 'a lye'.

常見錯誤

❌He poured a lye down the drain.
✅He poured lye down the drain.
💡Lye is uncountable; it does not take 'a' or 'an'.
❌The box is full of lye and lie.
✅The box is full of lye and limes.
💡'Lie' is a homophone but means a falsehood or a resting position, not the chemical.