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
Examples of coral in a Sentence
brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral
Recent Examples on the Web
Glide through underwater gardens featuring lobed pore, slipper, and mushroom corals, among others.
—
Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
Scientists say the recovery from those events was driven by fast-growing Acropora corals, which are more vulnerable to thermal stress and coral bleaching.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2015, for instance, scientists created more heat-resistant coral by crossbreeding colonies from different latitudes.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
With projects calling for thousands of coral to be planted over the next year and tens of thousands of coral to be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more than $100 each.
—David Fischer, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
In mere months, the coral has the potential to flourish once again.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Small double or single blooms in pink, coral, red, peach, white, or yellow resemble a traditional rose shape.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
These flat neurons are arranged in parallel, as if millions of fan corals were stacked atop each other in a tight bundle.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Parts of the Shropshire Hills were once under a prehistoric ocean, and pieces of coral are often unearthed there, according to the auction house.
—Emily Blumenthal, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
Scientists say the recovery from those events was driven by fast-growing Acropora corals, which are more vulnerable to thermal stress and coral bleaching.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2015, for instance, scientists created more heat-resistant coral by crossbreeding colonies from different latitudes.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
With projects calling for thousands of coral to be planted over the next year and tens of thousands of coral to be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more than $100 each.
—David Fischer, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
In mere months, the coral has the potential to flourish once again.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Small double or single blooms in pink, coral, red, peach, white, or yellow resemble a traditional rose shape.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
These flat neurons are arranged in parallel, as if millions of fan corals were stacked atop each other in a tight bundle.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Parts of the Shropshire Hills were once under a prehistoric ocean, and pieces of coral are often unearthed there, according to the auction house.
—Emily Blumenthal, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near coral
Cite this Entry
“Coral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coral. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coral
noun
cor·al
ˈkȯr-əl 
ˈkär-
1
a
: the stony or horny deposit that is composed of the skeletons of various polyps
especially
: a richly red coral used in jewelry
b
: a polyp or polyp colony together with its membranes and skeleton
2
: a deep pink
coral
adjective
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