talc

[ talk ]
See synonyms for talc on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also tal·cum [tal-kuhm]. /ˈtæl kəm/. a green-to-gray, soft mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2, unctuous to the touch, and occurring usually in foliated or compact masses, used in making lubricants, talcum powder, electrical insulation, etc.

verb (used with object),talcked or talced [talkt], /tælkt/, talck·ing or talc·ing [tal-king]. /ˈtæl kɪŋ/.
  1. to treat or rub with talc.

Origin of talc

1
1595–1605; <Medieval Latin talcum<Arabic ṭalq mica <Persian talk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use talc in a sentence

  • Allow this to almost dry, and then sprinkle on talcum powder which smooths over the dry varnish of ichthyol.

    The Mother and Her Child | William S. Sadler
  • Likewise Mennen, of talcum powder fame, whose face and name are known all over the world.

  • The drinks were warm; the ballet was suffering from lack of both tune and talcum—but his family would not return until September.

    Sixes and Sevens | O. Henry
  • The man achieved another bar of "The Holy City," and fondly dusted his face with talcum powder, critically observing the effect.

    Bunker Bean | Harry Leon Wilson
  • Every morning shake a little talcum powder or "Foot Ease" in each shoe.

    The Plattsburg Manual | O.O. Ellis and E.B. Garey

British Dictionary definitions for talc

talc

/ (tælk) /


nounAlso: talcum
  1. 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

verbtalcs, talcking, talcked, talcs, talcing or talced
  1. (tr) to apply talc to

Origin of talc

1
C16: from Medieval Latin talcum, from Arabic talq mica, from Persian talk

Derived forms of talc

  • talcose or talcous, adjective

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

Scientific definitions for talc

talc

[ 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: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.