variants
or calk
caulked or calked; caulking or calking; caulks or calks
: 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
: material used to caulk
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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
This tool can be used with 10-ounce caulking tubes.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
One of the first collections devoted to caulking guns and wrenches opened in Berkeley, Calif., in 1979, The Washington Post previously reported.
—Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
Securing and caulking the baseboards helps prevent dust and grime from entering the former garage space.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2024
PCBs, which were banned from production in 1979 due to their toxicity, were commonly used in caulking, light fixtures and other parts of buildings from the 1950s to 1970s, according to Massachusetts' Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2023
Around windows and in places where there’s not enough room for drywall, caulking can help.
—Gabe Bullard, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
The men were engaged as ship caulkers, the backbone of the ship caulking trade industry in the 19th century.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2023
Winter will be here soon, so learn how to caulk, weather strip and insulate the correct way.
—cleveland, 8 Sep. 2023
Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
Two of the cars that derailed had been holding nearly 386,000 pounds of acrylates, strong-smelling, highly irritating chemicals that are used to make paints, coatings, caulks and sealants.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The community’s builders are committed to energy efficiency, incorporating materials like a whole-house wrap, a foam and caulk package and low-E double-pane windows to create draft-free homes with lower utility costs.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Check for gaps around doors and windows, and seal them with caulk.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Most logger boots no longer have spikes (which are properly called caulks).
—Bob Beacham, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
Use a clear caulk that’s labeled as paintable, such as Dap’s alex plus clear acrylic caulk with silicone ($4.28 a tube at Home Depot).
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023
Add caulk or weatherstripping around drafty doors and windows, and seal holes or cracks hidden in attics, basements and crawlspaces with caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping.
—oregonlive, 10 July 2022
For holes less than an inch in size, stainless steel, copper mesh or caulk will work.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 12 July 2023
Verb
Seal air leaks around windows and doors by caulking, weatherstripping or adjusting hardware to create a better seal.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
This tool can be used with 10-ounce caulking tubes.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
One of the first collections devoted to caulking guns and wrenches opened in Berkeley, Calif., in 1979, The Washington Post previously reported.
—Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
Securing and caulking the baseboards helps prevent dust and grime from entering the former garage space.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2024
PCBs, which were banned from production in 1979 due to their toxicity, were commonly used in caulking, light fixtures and other parts of buildings from the 1950s to 1970s, according to Massachusetts' Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2023
Around windows and in places where there’s not enough room for drywall, caulking can help.
—Gabe Bullard, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
The men were engaged as ship caulkers, the backbone of the ship caulking trade industry in the 19th century.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2023
Winter will be here soon, so learn how to caulk, weather strip and insulate the correct way.
—cleveland, 8 Sep. 2023
Noun
Caulk Type: The best caulk guns work with a variety of caulk types, including acrylic latex, silicone, or hybrid caulks that combine acrylic latex with silicone.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
Two of the cars that derailed had been holding nearly 386,000 pounds of acrylates, strong-smelling, highly irritating chemicals that are used to make paints, coatings, caulks and sealants.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The community’s builders are committed to energy efficiency, incorporating materials like a whole-house wrap, a foam and caulk package and low-E double-pane windows to create draft-free homes with lower utility costs.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Check for gaps around doors and windows, and seal them with caulk.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Most logger boots no longer have spikes (which are properly called caulks).
—Bob Beacham, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
Use a clear caulk that’s labeled as paintable, such as Dap’s alex plus clear acrylic caulk with silicone ($4.28 a tube at Home Depot).
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023
Add caulk or weatherstripping around drafty doors and windows, and seal holes or cracks hidden in attics, basements and crawlspaces with caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping.
—oregonlive, 10 July 2022
For holes less than an inch in size, stainless steel, copper mesh or caulk will work.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 12 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caulk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near caulk
Cite this Entry
“Caulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caulk. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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