talc

UK: /ˈtælk/ US: /tælk/ ,(talk)

Inflections of 'talc' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

talcs

v 3rd person singular

talcing

v pres p

talcking

v pres p

talced

v past

talcked

v past

talced

v past p

talcked

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

talc /tælk/  n. 

1. talcum powder.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

talc  (talk), n., v., talcked or talced (talkt), talck•ing or talc•ing 

(tal′king). 

n. 

Also, tal•cum  (tal′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.
1. See talcum powder. 

v.t. 

2. to treat or rub with talc.

• Persian talk
• Arabic ṭalq mica
• Medieval Latin talcum
• 1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

talc / tælk/ noun
also: talcum

1. See talcum powder
2. 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: Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. Crystal structure: monoclinic

verb (talcs, talcking, talcked, talcs, talcing, talced)

1. (transitive) to apply talc to

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin talcum, from Arabic talq mica, from Persian talk

ˈtalcose, ˈtalcous adjective