Main Entry: cor·al

Pronunciation: \ˈkȯr-əl, ˈkär-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion

Date: 14th century

1 a : the calcareous or horny skeletal deposit produced by anthozoan or rarely hydrozoan polyps; especially : a richly red precious coral secreted by a gorgonian (genus Corallium) b : a polyp or polyp colony together with its membranes and skeleton
2 : a piece of coral and especially of red coral
3 a : a bright reddish ovary (as of a lobster or scallop) b : a deep pink

— coral adjective

— cor·al·loid \-ə-ˌlȯid\ adjective