lye
/laɪ/
noun
- A strong alkaline solution, usually made from wood ashes or sodium hydroxide, used for cleaning, making soap, or food preparation.
- The old recipe for soap required mixing lye with animal fat.
- Be careful when handling lye because it can burn your skin.
- Some traditional pretzels are dipped in a lye solution before baking to give them a shiny brown crust.