brain coral

American  

noun

1. any of several reef-building corals of the genus Meandrina, having a highly convoluted and furrowed surface.

---

brain coral British  

noun

1. a stony coral of the genus Meandrina , in which the polyps lie in troughlike thecae resembling the convoluted surface of a human brain

---

Etymology

Origin of brain coral

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

The tiles are designed in layers, using biomimicry to replicate the geometry of a brain coral, so as not to interfere with the growth patterns of real coral.

From The Guardian

They split and clone themselves one by one to eventually form large, curious looking underwater structures — brain coral, staghorn, elkhorn, fan, star and hundreds more shapes, depending on their species.

From New York Times

A nearby brain coral is split by jagged white lines, further evidence of disease.

From The Guardian

A brain coral is the size of an SUV.

From Washington Post

Throughout the wreck, I could also clearly see vibrant gardens of intricate brain coral and plum-colored fan coral, looking as if they’d been beautifully designed and arranged within the ship’s hulls and rudder.

From New York Times