French word

calcaire

Pronunciation

IPA/kalkɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounlimescale

Example

Il y a beaucoup de calcaire dans la bouilloire.

There is a lot of limescale in the kettle.

Illustration for calcaire (limescale)

More examples

Le robinet a des dépôts de calcaire.

The faucet has limescale deposits.

Core concept

Pale mineral matter that either builds a stubborn crust from water or forms a calcium-rich rock.

Common phrases

  • dépôt de calcaire

    limescale deposit

  • enlever le calcaire

    remove limescale

  • traces de calcaire

    traces of limescale

Similar words

tartre: A hard white calcium deposit that forms on equipment or teeth.
dépôt: Material separated from a liquid and collected in equipment or pipes.
incrustation: A stubborn coating stuck to a surface and difficult to scrub off.

Definition in French

Dépôt dur et généralement blanc, constitué principalement de carbonate de calcium ou de ses sels, qui se forme sur les surfaces et dans les appareils en contact avec de l'eau minéralisée ; terme employé aussi pour la roche riche en carbonate de calcium.

Word origin

The French word calcaire developed from Latin calcarius, formed from calx, calcis, the Latin word for lime.

Usage tips

  • French uses eau calcaire or eau dure for mineral-rich hard water, while calcaire alone usually names the deposit or the rock.

Other meanings

  • limestonenoun
  • calcareousadjective

Opposites

  • eau doucesoft waternoun

Word lists with this word