# chalk

> English word · Noun · IPA /t͡ʃɔːk/ · frequency rank #11,355

## Definitions
1. A soft, white, powdery limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃).
2. A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO₄), that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard (chalkboard).
3. Tailor's chalk.
4. 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).
5. A platoon-sized group of airborne soldiers.
6. The favorite in a sporting event.
7. The prediction that there will be no upsets, and the favored competitor will win.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **chat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chat)
- **coal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-coal)
- **chan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chan)
- **chap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chap)
- **char** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-char)
- **Chao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chao)
- **Chas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chas)
- **Chaz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chaz)
- **cham** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-cham)
- **Chau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chau)
- **check** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-check)
- **child** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-child)
- **chart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chart)
- **chase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chase)
- **crack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-crack)
- **Clark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-clark)
- **chaos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chaos)
- **chill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chill)
- **chuck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-chuck)
- **charm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalk-vs-charm)

## Common misspellings (8)
`cahlk`, `cchalk`, `chakl`, `chalkk`, `challk`, `chhalk`, `chlak`, `hcalk`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chalk