/ tʃɔːk; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a type of soft white stone :
the chalk cliffs of southern England
2.
[ U , C ] a substance similar to chalk made into white or coloured sticks for writing or drawing :
a piece / stick of chalk
drawing diagrams with chalk on the blackboard
a box of coloured chalks
•
IDIOMS
- chalk and cheese
—more at long adjective
■ verb
[ vn ] chalk sth (up) (on sth) to write or draw sth with chalk :
She chalked (up) the day's menu on the board.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- chalk up sth
- chalk sth up to sth
•
IDIOMS
see experience noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English cealc (also denoting lime), related to Dutch kalk and German Kalk , from Latin calx , lime , probably from Greek khalix pebble, limestone.