chalk

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) A soft, white, powdery limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃).
2. (countable) A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO₄), that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard (chalkboard).
3. (countable, uncountable) Tailor's chalk.
4. (uncountable) A white powdery substance used to prevent hands slipping from holds when climbing, or losing grip in weight-lifting or gymnastics, sometimes but not always limestone-chalk, often magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃).
5. (US, countable) A platoon-sized group of airborne soldiers.
6. (US, countable, uncountable) The favorite in a sporting event.
7. (US, countable, uncountable) The prediction that there will be no upsets, and the favored competitor will win.

Verb

1. To apply chalk to anything, such as the tip of a billiard cue.
2. To record something, as on a blackboard, using chalk.
3. To use powdered chalk to mark the lines on a playing field.
4. (figuratively) To record a score or event, as if on a chalkboard.
5. To manure (land) with chalk.
6. To make white, as if with chalk; to make pale; to bleach.

Synonyms

lime

crayon

🖍️

charcoal

chicken feed

meth

crank

Methedrine

deoxyephedrine

methamphetamine hydrochloride

shabu

glass

trash

ice

🧊

chalky

methamphetamine

pencil

📝

speed

spot

whitening

drawing chalk

notch up

take notice

consisting of chalk

chk

creta

Tailor’s chalk

chalk-colored

chalk-coloured

mark

blaze

chaulk

check

gypsum

indicate

jot

jot down

label

🏷️

lead

limestone

loam

make a note

blanch

note

Translations

craie

Kreide

gesso

krijt

tiza

κιμωλία

creta

giz

guix

creta

gessetto

creta

Kalk

yeso

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃɔːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: chalk

In summary

From Middle English chalk, chalke, from Old English ċealc, from Proto-West Germanic *kalk, borrowed from Latin calx (“limestone”), again borrowed from Ancient Greek χάλιξ (khálix, “pebble”). Doublet of calx and cauk.