chalky

[chaw-kee] /ˈtʃɔ ki/

adjective, chalkier, chalkiest.

of or like chalk.

of a chalklike consistency:

chalky soil.

without resonance, color, warmth, etc.:

several high tones that were quite chalky.

Photography. lacking in detail, due to extreme contrast:

a chalky print.

Origin of chalky

late Middle English

1425-1475

late Middle English word dating back to 1425-75; See origin at chalk, -y¹

Related forms

chalkiness, noun

nonchalky, adjective

unchalky, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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Examples from the Web for chalkiness

Historical Examples

And I sometimes wonder whether this chalkiness is due to the use of the north light!

Bromide Printing and Enlarging John A. Tennant

Word Origin and History for chalkiness

adj.

c.1400, from chalk (n.) + -y (2). Related: Chalkiness.

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