Origin of chalk
before 900; Middle English
chalke, Old English
cealc < Latin
calc- (stem of
calx) lime
OTHER WORDS FROM chalk
chalk·like, adjective un·chalked, adjectiveWords nearby chalk
Example sentences from the Web for chalk
British Dictionary definitions for chalk
chalk
/ (tʃɔːk) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of chalk
chalklike, adjective chalky, adjective chalkiness, nounWord Origin for chalk
Old English
cealc, from Latin
calx limestone, from Greek
khalix pebble
Scientific definitions for chalk
chalk
[ chôk ]
A soft, white, gray, or yellow limestone consisting mainly of calcium carbonate and formed primarily from the accumulation of fossil microorganisms such as foraminifera and calcareous algae. Chalk is used in making lime, cement, and fertilizers, and as a whitening pigment in ceramics, paints, and cosmetics. The chalk used in classrooms is usually artificial.