a solid-fuel product containing about 80 per cent of carbon produced by distillation of coal to drive off its volatile constituents: used as a fuel and in metallurgy as a reducing agent for converting metal oxides into metals
any similar material, such as the layer formed in the cylinders of a car engine by incomplete combustion of the fuel
Sir Edward. 1552–1634, English jurist, noted for his defence of the common law against encroachment from the Crown: the Petition of Right (1628) was largely his work
Thomas William, 1st Earl of Leicester, known as Coke of Holkham. 1752–1842, English agriculturist: pioneered agricultural improvement and considerably improved productivity at his Holkham estate in Norfolk
1375–1425; late Middle English colke, coke, equivalent to Old English col coal + -( o ) ca -ock
An Americanism first recorded in 1905–10; short for cocaine
From Coke, the brand name of a carbonated cola drink
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Because it’s the first contract with Nippon Steel, they’d like to have a quick signing and smooth transition,” said Andrew Macey, a worker at Mon Valley’s coke plant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Exxon has said it is targeting a more than 50% increase in Permian output between 2025 and 2030 in part by using petroleum coke, a refinery byproduct, to recover more molecules as it fracks wells.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
“I had to take a few jelly beans and coke to get going. It wasn’t the prettiest innings but sometimes you’ve got to do it ugly.”
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025
He says it's the caffeine and sugar in coke that helps him.
From BBC ● May 31, 2025
Lefty could see die train tracks now, the huge silos along the river, the giant spice box of coal, coke, and iron ore, and the catwalks stretching overhead like giant spiders.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Coke stood out for its promises for future sales growth, the person said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Eventually KFC told both companies that Coke had won the contract.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
When KFC’s last 10-year U.S. beverage supply deal was about to end, Yum considered bids from Coke as an alternative vendor to Pepsi, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Occasionally, someone stole one, apparently deciding that a restaurant pager belonged in the same category of souvenir as a pebbled Coke glass.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
She sees the face I make and tells me to grab a can of Coke from the snack table and mix it in.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
In the fire, a similar breaking away of the surface takes place, and when coked, the coal is but moderately coherent.
From Peat and its Uses as Fertilizer and Fuel by Samuel W. (Samuel William) Johnson
When the green coal on top has been coked the fire is ready for use.
From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Fred H. (Fred Herbert) Colvin
With air heated and coals not coked; 2 1/4; 3 1/4; 7 1/2; 65 Notes.
From On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures by Charles Babbage
The best form of fire to use is one having rather high banks of coked coal on each side of the mass, leaving an opening or channel from end to end.
From Oxy-Acetylene Welding and Cutting Electric, Forge and Thermit Welding together with related methods and materials used in metal working and the oxygen process for removal of carbon by Harold P. (Harold Phillips) Manly
In the case of bituminous coal, Bunsen and Playfair find that it has to descend still lower before it is perfectly coked.
From Scientific American magazine Vol 2. No. 3 Oct 10 1846 The Advocate of Industry and Journal of Scientific, Mechanical and Other Improvements by Rufus Porter
The resource powered steamships, heated homes, and supported metal production through coking processes.
From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026
He reckons coking coal prices could fall back to between $200-$220/ton once Australian exports normalize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
Both are heavy, high-sulfur crudes purchased primarily by complex U.S. refiners with coking capacity.
From Barron's ● Jan. 3, 2026
He sees the fall and subsequent rise in both thermal and coking coal prices lining up broadly “with China’s year-on-year rise and fall in coal production.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
Nine herons stand like flowers in the canal beside the coking plant.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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