noun
cal
kal
noun
1
Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), used in building and farming.
"Farmers spread cal on the soil to reduce acidity."
"The old recipe called for a pinch of cal to soften the corn husks."
2
An old miners' name for wolfram, an ore of tungsten.
"The prospector logged a vein of cal running through the rock."
How to Use Cal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short technical term — either slaked lime used in farming and building, or an old name for a tungsten ore.
Common mistake
Don't confuse this "cal" with the informal short form of the names Caleb, Calvin, or Caroline, or with "cal" as an abbreviation for calorie — same letters, unrelated meanings.
Word Forms
Cals plural
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Farmers spread _____ on the soil to reduce acidity.
Etymology
A clipped form of "calcium hydroxide" — shortened the way chemical names often get trimmed in casual or trade use.