coal

¹coal

noun, often attributive \ˈkōl\

Definition of COAL

1

: a piece of glowing carbon or charred wood : ember

2

: charcoal 1

3

a : a black or brownish-black solid combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased pressure and temperature that is widely used as a natural fuel b plural British : pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning

Examples of COAL

1. When the coals are red, they are very hot.
2. I toasted one last marshmallow over the coals of the campfire.

Origin of COAL

Middle English col, from Old English; akin to Old High German & Old Norse kol burning ember, Middle Irish gúal coal

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with COAL

bole, boll, bowl, cole, Cole, dhole, dole, droll, foal, goal, hole, knoll, kohl, Kohl, mole, ole, pole, poll, prole, role, roll, scroll, Seoul, shoal, skoal, sol, sole, soul, stole, stroll, thole, tole, toll, troll, vole, whole