lid

1 of 2

noun

plural lids
1
: a movable cover for the opening of a hollow container (such as a vessel or box)
2
: eyelid
3
: the operculum in mosses
4
slang : hat
5
: something that confines, limits, or suppresses : check, restraint
6
slang : an ounce of marijuana
"He wanted privacy. He'd bought a keg of beer and a lid of dope and he didn't want his parents to know."Sue Grafton

lid

2 of 2

verb

lidded; lidding

transitive verb

: to cover or supply with a lid

Examples of lid in a Sentence

Noun I had to get a screwdriver to pry the lid off of the paint can. as he left the field, the pitcher tipped his lid to the cheering crowd
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The exception is the quarter-dollar-size disk in the middle of the lid, which vaguely resembles a speaker and is raised slightly from the lid surface. John Burek, PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025 Almost as soon as the pair pry the lid off the safe, police — on high alert for looters in the area — emerge to investigate the group. Tabitha Parent, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025 The containers have leak-proof, airtight lids and are microwave, dishwasher and freezer-safe. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025 At Alice + Olivia spring/summer 2025, hints of shimmer were placed at the inner corners and concentrated to the middle of the lids to brighten up eyes. Rebecca Fearn, refinery29.com, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for lid 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hlid; akin to Old High German hlit cover, and probably to Old English hlinian to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lid was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lid

Cite this Entry

“Lid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lid. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

lid

noun
ˈlid
1
: a movable cover (as for a box or jar)
2
: eyelid
3
slang : hat
4
: a force that holds back
tried to keep a lid on the news
lidded
ˈlid-əd
adjective

Medical Definition

lid

noun
: eyelid

More from Merriam-Webster on lid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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