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lid

n. · v.
US //ˈɫɪd// UK //lˈɪd// lid
  1. 1 container cover (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a removable or hinged cover for the top of a container.

    a removable or hinged cover for the top of a hollow receptacle or container.

    Example

    She struggled to open the lid of the jam jar because it was stuck.

    Example

    The chef replaced the heavy lid on the cast-iron pot to ensure the stew simmered at a constant temperature for several hours.
  2. 2 eyelid (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    the piece of skin that covers your eye when you close it.

    the fold of skin that can be moved to cover and protect the eyeball.

    Example

    His lids felt heavy as he tried to stay awake during the long movie.

    Example

    The patient presented with inflammation of the upper lid, which the doctor treated with a warm compress and antibiotic ointment.
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  1. 3 restraint or limit (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a limit or control put on something to stop it from increasing.

    a figurative restraint or ceiling placed on an activity, price, or emotion.

    Example

    The government is trying to put a lid on rising fuel prices.

    Example

    The central bank struggled to keep a lid on inflation as consumer spending surged unexpectedly during the holiday quarter.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the idiom 'to put a lid on' something.
  2. 4 hat or helmet (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a hat, cap, or a motorcycle helmet.

    any form of headgear, specifically a cap or a protective crash helmet.

    Example

    Don't forget to grab your lid before you get on the bike.

    Example

    He adjusted his lid and checked his mirrors before pulling the motorcycle out into the heavy morning traffic.
  3. 5 biological cover (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a natural cover on a plant or animal part.

    an operculum or similar lid-like anatomical structure in plants or animals.

    Example

    The pitcher plant has a small lid to keep out too much rainwater.

    Example

    The researcher observed how the operculum, or lid, protected the snail from desiccation during the low tide.
    • operculum
  4. 6 to provide with a cover (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical

    to put a lid on something.

    to provide or cover with a lid; often used in manufacturing or technical contexts.

    Example

    The machine lids the jars automatically as they move down the line.

    Example

    The automated assembly line is designed to lid and seal over five hundred units per hour with minimal human intervention.
Origin

Inherited from Middle English lid, lyd, from Old English hlid, from Proto-West Germanic hlid, from Proto-Germanic hlidą (compare Dutch lid, German Lid (“eyelid”), Swedish lid (“gate”)), from Proto-Indo-European ḱlitós (“covered”), from Proto-Indo-European ḱley- (“to cover”).

Word family
Idioms6 entries

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