I. ˈchȯk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cealc; akin to Old High German & Middle Low German kalk lime; all from a prehistoric West Germanic word borrowed from Latin calc-, calx limestone, lime, from Greek chalix small stone, pebble; akin to Greek skallein to hoe — more at shell
1.
a. : a soft friable limestone of marine origin earthy in texture and white, gray, or buff in color, found widely distributed in Europe and America chiefly in the Cretaceous system, and composed for the most part of the minute shells of Foraminifera — compare calcium carbonate , whiting 2
b. : chalk or a chalky material in prepared form (as for filler or for marking or drawing purposes)
one twirl or whisk of the chalk is enough — Billiard Player
hand chalk to keep your hands dry — Margery Shaughnessy
apply liquid chalk to white canvas shoes
rub a cord with chalk to mark a line
— sometimes used in plural
some colored chalks by the blackboard — Adrian Bell
only white and transparent chalks should be used on a garment fabric — Evelyn A. Mansfield
2.
a. : a mark or line made with chalk
cut a plank to the chalk
b. Britain : a point scored in a game
winning with 30 chalks more than any other player
3.
a. : a drawing done in chalk
b. : a line on a tennis court
the drive hit the chalk
4. usually capitalized : the Chalk stage
5. : the late odds of a horse race, often posted in chalk ; also : a favorite as indicated by such posting
•
- by a long chalk
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to treat, process, or prepare with chalk: as
a. : to rub or mark with chalk ; specifically : to apply chalk to (the tip of a billiard cue) to prevent slippage
b. Britain : to fertilize (land) with chalk
2.
a. : to write, draw, sketch, or outline with chalk
chalk one's name on a wall
b. : to mark with a sign, number, label, or symbol with or as if with chalk
warehouse goods chalked for export
3.
a. : to delineate roughly with or as if with chalk : outline — usually used with out
chalk out a plan of attack
b. : to set down, add up, or record with or as if with chalk — usually used with up
chalking up his good points and ticking off the bad — Hamilton Basso
— see chalk up
intransitive verb
: to become chalky ; specifically of paint : to develop a powdery surface due to disintegration of binder
•
- chalk the door
III. adjective
1. : chalky
in the chalk earth of our garden — Clare Leighton
2. usually capitalized : of or belonging to the Upper Cretaceous of Britain and western Europe