chalk

/t͡ʃɔːk/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: chalked

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A soft, white, powdery limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃).

Noun

Examples

chalk cliffs are not recommended for climbing

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO₄), that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard (chalkboard).

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To apply chalk to anything, such as the tip of a billiard cue.

Verb

Examples

chalk your hands before climbing

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To record something, as on a blackboard, using chalk.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “chalk” mean?

A soft, white, powdery limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃).

Is “chalk” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.