caulk

1 of 3

verb

variants or calk
caulked or calked; caulking or calking; caulks or calks
Synonyms of caulknext

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
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Grout and Caulking Mildew spores seem to find their way onto grout and caulking in the shower. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 Seal Grout Seal and caulk any areas where shower grout is cracked or damaged to keep water from getting behind walls and baseboards. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Noun
Run your steam cleaner along the caulk, and then mix soap and white vinegar and use the mixture to scrub the surface. Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 Park Police said the incident happened on June 19—10 days after police received a report that the caulk over foam sealant at the pool was cut with a knife, according to a court filing from Wednesday. Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for caulk

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of caulk was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caulk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

caulk

verb
variants or calk
ˈkȯk
: to fill up a crack, seam, or joint so as to make it watertight
caulker noun

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