Chalk n. 1.(Min.) A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone.
2.(Fine Arts) Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used in the same manner. See Crayon. Black chalk, a mineral of a bluish color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a variety of argillaceous slate.
By a long chalk, by a long way; by many degrees. (Slang)
Chalk drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with crayons. See Crayon. Chalk formation. See Cretaceous formation, under Cretaceous. Chalk line, a cord rubbed with chalk, used for making straight lines on boards or other material, as a guide in cutting or in arranging work.
Chalk mixture, a preparation of chalk, cinnamon, and sugar in gum water, much used in diarrheal affection, esp. of infants.
Chalk period. (Geol.) See Cretaceous period, under Cretaceous. Chalk pit, a pit in which chalk is dug.
Drawing chalk. See Crayon, n., 1. French chalk, steatite or soapstone, a soft magnesian mineral.
Red chalk, an indurated clayey ocher containing iron, and used by painters and artificers; reddle.
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