chalky

[ chaw-kee ]

adjective

, chalk·i·er, chalk·i·est.

1. of or like chalk.
2. of a chalklike consistency:

   chalky soil.

3. without resonance, color, warmth, etc.:

   several high tones that were quite chalky.

4. Photography. lacking in detail, due to extreme contrast:

   a chalky print.

5. Sports Slang. relating to the competitor considered most likely to win by the oddsmakers:

   Sports betting is boring if all you make are chalky picks—put some money on a long shot and live a little!

Other Words From

• chalk·i·ness noun
• non·chalk·y adjective
• un·chalk·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalky¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English chalki, chalky; chalk, -y ¹

Example Sentences

“Sometimes, it can be a little more dry and the ball can feel a little more chalky, for sure.”

From Seattle Times

At the end of a long day using a drone to film sharks off Carpinteria, California, Guana saw something strange: a relatively tiny and unusually chalky great white.

From Science Magazine

He poured bottled water into a bowl for his 2-year-old pit bull, Caya — the building’s chalky tap water wasn’t good enough for his beloved rescue dog — and settled her in her crate.

From Los Angeles Times

She was pale and covered in chalky dust, as if hit by an explosion, and her eyes stared at him with a glare as dark and heavy as oil.

From New York Times

Have you ever bitten into a nut or a piece of chocolate, expecting a smooth, rich taste, only to encounter an unexpected and unpleasant chalky or sour flavor?

From Salon

Related Words

• milky