coralline

American  

[kawr-uh-lin, -lahyn, kor-] / ˈkɔr ə lɪn, -ˌlaɪn, ˈkɒr- /

adjective

1. composed of coral or having the structure of coral.

   coralline limestone.

2. corallike.

3. coral-colored; reddish-yellow; light yellowish-red; pinkish-yellow.

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noun

1. any red algae impregnated with lime.

2. any of various corallike animals or calcareous algae.

coralline British  

/ ˈkɒrəˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. Also: coralloid.  of, relating to, or resembling coral

2. of the colour of coral

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noun

1. any of various red algae impregnated with calcium carbonate, esp any of the genus Corallina

2. any of various animals that resemble coral, such as certain sponges

Etymology

Origin of coralline

First recorded in 1535–45, coralline is from the Late Latin word corallīnus coral red. See coral, -ine ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coralline

Whereas coralline algae form thin, hard crusts that are pink or whitish, peyssonnelid algae make thicker, brown or dark red crusts that are often a little squishy above a hard base.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 6, 2023

They include small size, which may reduce physiological requirements, and their ability to feed on a variety of food sources, despite preferring a diet of coralline algae.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2023

Gelidium flourishes along the wave-battered west coast shore, and varies from sickly yellow clumps to purple coralline fans.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 27, 2020

The waterfront is lined with old palazzos of coralline limestone, whose façades were glowing in the dusk.

From The New Yorker ● Aug. 27, 2018

Sponges which looked as hard as stone spread over wide areas, while sprays of coralline added their graceful forms to the picture.

From The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In by Sir John Lubbock