DictionaryslakeTreating lime with water
verb

slake

To add water to quicklime to produce hydrated lime.

The mason carefully slakes quicklime with water before preparing the mortar.

Etymology

The older verb concerns lessening or calming. Slaking lime applies that idea to treating reactive quicklime with water, producing hydrated lime.

More examples

  • Adding water to slake quicklime releases a great deal of heat.
  • Workers wear protective gear while slaking lime.
  • They used freshly slaked lime to mix the plaster.

Forms

slake · slakes · slaked · slaking

Similar words

hydrate
Means chemically combining with water, not specifically treating quicklime.