垩
chalk; whitewash; to fertilize
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesnoun
chalk; white earth
formalRefers specifically to a type of soft, white, powdery limestone used in making lime, cement, or as a pigment. Often seen in scientific or industrial contexts.
This type of chalk is an important industrial raw material.
The Cretaceous period is an era in geological time.
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In some places on the wall, the underlying chalk is exposed.
verb
to whitewash; to coat with chalk
literaryA classical or literary usage, meaning to paint or coat a surface with chalk or lime wash. Rare in modern speech.
In ancient times, people often whitewashed their walls to make them white.
The pillars of this temple were once re-whitewashed.
verb
to fertilize (soil)
dialectA regional/dialectal usage, primarily in some southern Chinese dialects. Not standard in Mandarin.
This field needs to be fertilized properly.
He is applying manure to the field.