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.

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
My only fear is that the coral may grow over and cover it up before I am free to get out there.
Stories of the Ships|Lewis R. Freeman
The most conspicuous fossil is a coral, which appears to belong to the family of Cyathophyllidae.
Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia|Ludwig Leichhardt
Some of these islands are very low, only just above the water, and are made of coral, and others have high mountains in them.
Taking Tales|W.H.G. Kingston
Then I made them cut wood, and piling the coral above it, set it on fire.
The Coral Island|R.M. Ballantyne
To the right is a long sea-wall, and on the other hand a small boat harbour, both built of coral.
In the Andamans and Nicobars|C. Boden Kloss

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

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.

Science definitions for coral

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.

coral

noun

adjective

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Origin of coral

Coral

noun

Examples from the Web for coral

coral

noun

Word Origin for coral

coral

coral