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talc

American  
[talk] / tælk /

noun

  1. Also talcum a green-to-gray, soft mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, Mg 3 (Si 4 O10 )(OH) 2 , unctuous to the touch, and occurring usually in foliated or compact masses, used in making lubricants, talcum powder, electrical insulation, etc.

  2. talcum powder.

verb (used with object)

talcked, talced, talcking, talcing

  1. to treat or rub with talc.

talc British  
/ tælk /

noun

  1. See talcum powder

  2. a white, grey, brown, or pale green mineral, found in metamorphic rocks. It is used in the manufacture of talcum powder and electrical insulators. Composition: hydrated magnesium silicate. Formula: Mg 3 Si 4 O 10 (OH) 2 . Crystal structure: monoclinic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to apply talc to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
talc Scientific  
/ tălk /

  1. A very soft white, greenish, or gray monoclinic mineral usually occurring as massive micalike flakes in igneous or metamorphic rocks. It has a soapy texture and is used in face powder and talcum powder, for coating paper, and as a filler in paints and plastics. Chemical formula: Mg 3 Si 4 O 10 (OH) 2 .

Other Word Forms

  • talcose adjective

Etymology

Origin of talc

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin talcum < Arabic ṭalq mica < Persian talk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The lawyers said the memo noted the safety of talc for babies could no longer be guaranteed.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

The women claim the pharmaceutical company knew about the dangers of contaminated talc for decades and that they, or family members, developed various types of cancers after using the products.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits linking its talc baby powder to cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Johnson & Johnson retained responsibility for talc litigation in the two countries after the spinoff, but Kenvue is responsible for talc litigation elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

Some areas became hard as rock while others remained as soft as talc.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.