Definition of "lye" []

• The liquid obtained by leaching wood ashes. (noun)
• See potassium hydroxide. (noun)
• See sodium hydroxide. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Regarding your question "Other than lye, is soap dangerous?" the short answer is "No!""
• "Prepared cotton fibers received successive steepings in lye, olive oil, alum, and dung in addition to several madder baths and aftertreatments."
• "For now they must brew the Christmas ale, steep the Christmas fish in lye, and do their Christmas baking and Christmas scouring."