coral reef

American  

noun

1. a reef composed mainly of coral and other organic matter of which parts have solidified into limestone.

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coral reef British  

noun

1. a marine ridge or reef consisting of coral and other organic material consolidated into limestone

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coral reef Scientific  

1. A mound or ridge of living coral, coral skeletons, and calcium carbonate deposits from other organisms such as calcareous algae, mollusks, and protozoans. Most coral reefs form in warm, shallow sea waters and rise to or near the surface, generally in the form of a barrier reef, fringing reef, or atoll. Coral reefs grow upward from the sea floor as the polyps of new corals cement themselves to the skeletons of those below and in turn provide support for algae and other organisms whose secretions serve to bind the skeletons together. The resulting structure provides a critical habitat for a wide variety of fish and marine invertebrates. Coral reefs also protect shores against erosion by causing large waves to break and lose some of their force before reaching land. The Great Barrier Reef off the northeastern coast of Australia extends for some 2,000 km (1,240 mi), making it the world's largest coral reef.

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coral reef Cultural  

1. A formation, at or near the surface of tropical waters, formed by skeletal deposits of corals, a form of sea life.

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Discover More

Atolls — ring-shaped islands that nearly or entirely enclose a lagoon — are coral reefs.

Coral reefs form a protective environment for a wide variety of marine animals.

Coral reefs are very sensitive to chemical pollution and changes in temperature and are considered to be in danger from environmental stress.

The largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Etymology

Origin of coral reef

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

As the planet recovered, coral reefs gradually returned, creating new shallow-water ecosystems.

From Science Daily

The studies, however, "largely showed minimal impacts on coral reefs", said John Burt, biology professor at the Mubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi.

From Barron's

Instead of damaging the coral reefs, these mohawked creatures end up on a plate later that day in ceviche or sashimi form.

From Salon

But now scientists on the first expedition beyond the islands' shallows have discovered an underwater mountain range, a massive "blue hole", coral reefs apparently untouched by climate change and never-before-seen sea creatures.

From BBC

"Local, regional and global economies rely heavily on the health of natural systems, such as coral reefs, but we often take them for granted," said Joshua Tewksbury, the director of STRI.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• atoll
• beach
• shoal