coral

¹

[ kawr-uhl, kor- ]

noun

1. the hard, variously colored, calcareous skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps.
2. such skeletons collectively, forming reefs, islands, etc.
3. the solitary or colonial polyp that secretes this calcareous skeleton.
4. a reddish yellow; light yellowish red; pinkish yellow.
5. the unimpregnated roe or eggs of the lobster that when boiled take on the color of red coral.
6. something made of coral, as an ornament, piece of jewelry, or a child's toy.

adjective

1. made of coral:

   a coral reef; coral ornamentation.

2. making coral:

   a coral polyp.

3. resembling coral, especially in color; yellowish-red.

Coral

²

[ kawr-uhl, kor- ]

noun

1. a female given name.

coral

/ ˈkɒrəl /

noun

1. See sea fan, stony coral
   any marine mostly colonial coelenterate of the class Anthozoa having a calcareous, horny, or soft skeleton See also stony coral sea fan
2. 1. the calcareous or horny material forming the skeleton of certain of these animals
   2. ( as modifier ) See also red coral

      a coral reef

3. 1. a rocklike aggregation of certain of these animals or their skeletons, forming an island or reef
   2. ( as modifier )

      a coral island

4. 1. an object made of coral, esp a piece of jewellery
   2. ( as modifier )

      a coral necklace

5. 1. a deep-pink to yellowish-pink colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      coral lipstick

6. the roe of a lobster or crab, which becomes pink when cooked

coral

/ kôr′əl /

1. Any of numerous small, sedentary cnidarians (coelenterates) of the class Anthozoa. Corals often form massive colonies in shallow sea water and secrete a cup-shaped skeleton of calcium carbonate, which they can retreat into when in danger. Corals are related to the sea anemones and have stinging tentacles around the mouth opening that are used to catch prey.
2. A hard, stony substance consisting of the skeletons of these animals. It is typically white, pink, or reddish and can form large reefs that support an abundance of ocean fish.

Other Words From

• coral·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coral¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English coral(l), from Latin corāll(i)um, from Greek korā́llion “red coral,” equivalent to korall- (from Semitic; compare Hebrew gōrāl “pebble”) + -ion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of coral¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin corāllium, from Greek korallion, probably of Semitic origin

Example Sentences

The mutation rate of mitochondria varies hugely from algae to tulips to coral.

From Nautilus

More than half of the world’s coral reefs are in danger of disappearing.

From Science News For Students

If the coral can’t attract another algae roommate in time, the coral itself will die.

From Science News For Students

That way corals won’t experience more stress than they can handle.

From Science News For Students

The scientists examined bleaching events in ocean corals between 2010 and 2019.

From Science News For Students

Cason is now retired from the Foreign Service and is the mayor of Coral Gables, Florida.

From The Daily Beast

Coral reefs are in decline, coastal dead zones are on the rise, and marine life is dying.

From The Daily Beast

For as long as anyone could remember, Adam Winfield of Cape Coral, Florida, wanted to join the U.S. military.

From The Daily Beast

Big British bookmaker Coral has suspended betting on Kate announcing she is pregnant again before the end of this month.

From The Daily Beast

The Reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985, with two-thirds of the loss occurring after 1998.

From The Daily Beast

The birds that build them swallow a certain kind of glutinous weed growing on the coral rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Between these two ranges of islands we only obtained one cast of the lead which gave us thirty-three fathoms on a coral bottom.

From Project Gutenberg

All the islands are low and wooded, and surrounded by a coral reef of small extent.

From Project Gutenberg

I could observe groups and clusters of coloured coral and madrepore-stone, whose magnificence challenges all description.

From Project Gutenberg

Both the islets are surrounded by coral reefs, of small extent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cardinal
• crimson
• flaming
• glowing
• maroon
• rose
• wine