noun

chalk

chawk

noun

A soft white rock made of limestone, or a stick of similar material used for writing or drawing.

"The teacher wrote the date on the board with chalk."

"Kids drew hopscotch squares in chalk on the sidewalk."

Powdered chalk-like substance used to improve grip in climbing, gymnastics, or weightlifting.

"The climber dipped her hands in chalk before the ascent."

verb

To mark or write something using chalk.

"He chalked the score on the blackboard after each round."

How to Use Chalk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft white mineral used for writing, marking, or improving grip.

Common mistake

To "chalk something up to" means to attribute it to a cause (e.g. "chalk it up to bad luck") — a different idiomatic use from the physical substance.

Common pairings

chalk it up to piece of chalk chalk dust

chalked past tense, chalks plural, Chalks plural, chalks singular

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The teacher wrote the date on the board with _____.

From Old English cealc, ultimately borrowed from Latin calx ("limestone"), from Greek khalix ("pebble").

talk walk Falk stalk catwalk sidewalk cakewalk crosswalk sleepwalk boardwalk beanstalk