# lid

/ˈɫɪd/ (US) · /lˈɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lid
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. container cover

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She struggled to open the lid of the jam jar because it was stuck.
- The chef replaced the heavy lid on the cast-iron pot to ensure the stew simmered at a constant temperature for several hours.

### 2. eyelid

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- His lids felt heavy as he tried to stay awake during the long movie.
- The patient presented with inflammation of the upper lid, which the doctor treated with a warm compress and antibiotic ointment.

### 3. restraint or limit

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 4. hat or helmet

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a hat, cap, or a motorcycle helmet.

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

- Don't forget to grab your lid before you get on the bike.
- He adjusted his lid and checked his mirrors before pulling the motorcycle out into the heavy morning traffic.

### 5. biological cover

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a natural cover on a plant or animal part.

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

- The pitcher plant has a small lid to keep out too much rainwater.
- The researcher observed how the operculum, or lid, protected the snail from desiccation during the low tide.

### 6. to provide with a cover

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to put a lid on something.

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

- The machine lids the jars automatically as they move down the line.
- The automated assembly line is designed to lid and seal over five hundred units per hour with minimal human intervention.

## Examples

- Please put the lid back on the jar of jam.
- The chef lifted the lid of the pot to check if the soup was boiling.
- Archaeologists carefully removed the heavy stone lid of the sarcophagus to reveal the artifacts preserved within the ancient tomb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.