coral

[kawr-uh l, kor-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR coral ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the hard, variously colored, calcareous skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps.

such skeletons collectively, forming reefs, islands, etc.

the solitary or colonial polyp that secretes this calcareous skeleton.

a reddish yellow; light yellowish red; pinkish yellow.

the unimpregnated roe or eggs of the lobster that when boiled take on the color of red coral.

something made of coral, as an ornament, piece of jewelry, or a child's toy.

adjective

made of coral: a coral reef; coral ornamentation.

making coral: a coral polyp.

resembling coral, especially in color; yellowish-red.

Origin of coral

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

Related formscor·al·like, adjective

Coral

[kawr-uh l, kor-]

noun

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for coral

glowing, rose-colored, rose, flaming, maroon, cardinal, crimson, coral, wine, tumor, cantaloupe, bittersweet, titian, peach, apricot, salmon, carrot, tangerine, flush, blush

Examples from the Web for coral

Contemporary Examples of coral

Cason is now retired from the Foreign Service and is the mayor of Coral Gables, Florida.
Meet America’s Next Ambassador to Cuba
Eleanor Clift
December 18, 2014
Coral reefs are in decline, coastal dead zones are on the rise, and marine life is dying.
‘Mission Blue’ Warning: The Ocean Is Not Too Big to Fail
Sylvia A. Earle
August 15, 2014
The Reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985, with two-thirds of the loss occurring after 1998.
Australia Wants to Open the Great Barrier Reef to Dumping
Kirsten Alexander
June 2, 2014
In works such as “Oceania,” featuring cut-outs birds, fish, coral and leaves, the walls of his apartment became the canvas itself.
This Summer, Get Thee To London For The RSC’s Henry IV
Emma Woolf
April 28, 2014
As more time passes, the coral that attach give the works entirely new shape, texture, and color.
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s Underwater Sculptures Are a Sight to Sea
Justin Jones
April 7, 2014

Historical Examples of coral

The cable, which had been broken by the anchors of coral fishers, was grapnelled with difficulty.
Heroes of the Telegraph
J. Munro
He brought no money, no coral from foreign parts, nor news of grapes in Eshcol.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
He goes thither, laden with coral and pearls from the Indies.
The Memoirs of Madame de Montespan, Complete
Madame La Marquise De Montespan
Dish on a folded napkin, and garnish with parsley, coral, and cut lemon.
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison
Garnish with coral and parsley, and serve with tartare sauce (see Sauces).
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for coral

coral

noun

any marine mostly colonial coelenterate of the class Anthozoa having a calcareous, horny, or soft skeletonSee also stony coral, sea fan

the calcareous or horny material forming the skeleton of certain of these animals
(as modifier)a coral reef See also red coral

a rocklike aggregation of certain of these animals or their skeletons, forming an island or reef
(as modifier)a coral island

an object made of coral, esp a piece of jewellery
(as modifier)a coral necklace

a deep-pink to yellowish-pink colour
(as adjective)coral lipstick

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

Word Origin for coral

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for coral

c.1300, from Old French coral (12c., Modern French corail), from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion; perhaps of Semitic origin (cf. Hebrew goral "small pebble," Arabic garal "small stone"), originally just the red variety found in the Mediterranean, hence use of the word as a symbol of "red." Related: Coralline. Coral snake (1760) is so called for the red zones in its markings. Coral reef is attested from 1745.

coral in Science

coral

[kôr′əl]

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.

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.