caulk

1 of 3

verb

ˈkȯk 

variants or calk

caulked or calked; caulking or calking; caulks or calks

transitive verb

: to stop up and make tight against leakage (something, such as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe)

caulker noun

caulk

2 of 3

noun (1)

variants or calk or less commonly caulking or calking

ˈkȯ-kiŋ 

: material used to caulk

caulk

3 of 3

noun (2)

variant spelling of calk entry 2, calk entry 3

: a cleat on the shoe of a horse to prevent slipping

also : a similar device worn on the sole of a shoe

Examples of caulk in a Sentence

Verb

He carefully caulked the area around the windows.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Add caulking to fill spots along the windowsill that have worn away, Dillingham says. —Nerdwallet, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024

Some members help maintain green spaces in city parks and others visit residents’ homes around the community and install water and electric upgrades, like LED light bulbs, caulking and low-flow faucets. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024

Noun

How to Prevent Carpenter Bees from Coming Back After the carpenter bees have left their nests, fill the holes with wooden dowels, caulk compounds, or wood putty to prevent re-entry. —Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2024

Check for air leaks around windows and doors, and use a caulk gun ( available at The Home Depot) to seal any gaps that could make your cooling system work overtime. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English caulken, from Anglo-French cauker, calcher, chalcher to trample, from Latin calcare, from calc-, calx heel

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1954, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

caulk

verb

variants or calk

ˈkȯk

: to fill up a crack, seam, or joint so as to make it watertight

caulker noun