chalk
/t͡ʃoːk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.69 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO₄), that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard (chalkboard).
Countable
noun
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).
Uncountable
noun
The prediction that there will be no upsets, and the favored competitor will win.
American usage; Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "chalk cliffs are not recommended for climbing"
- "when working out your next move, it's a good idea to get some more chalk from the bag"
- "OK, let's get rid of the chalk players right away. The chalk likes North Carolina. Dean Smith has taken Carolina to the Final Four six times."
- "Excuse us for sticking with the chalk, but the predicted winners are Afternoon Deelites in the Derby, Oliver McCall over Larry Holmes, Nick Faldo in the Masters, and Al Unser Jr. in the Grand Prix."
- "Instead, he played the chalk and selected the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament."
- "chalk your hands before climbing"
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin calxbor. Proto-West Germanic *kalk Old English ċealc Middle English chalk English chalk Inherited 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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /t͡ʃoːk/
- British English: /t͡ʃɔːk/
Usage
- Uncountable
- Countable
- American usage