coral

noun

cor·​al ˈkȯr-əl 

ˈkär-

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

coralloid

ˈkȯr-ə-ˌlȯid 

ˈkär-

adjective

Examples of coral in a Sentence

brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the past decade, teams have planted hundreds of thousands of corals on Florida reefs in one of the most ambitious restoration efforts anywhere. — Steven Vollmer, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Beyond the coral, a color no NHL team has ever used in a game setting, the jersey also has shades of gold, peach yellow. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

The image appears to include a shiny brain, a blue tube resembling a sea creature, fleshy tissue, and a yellow sac that could be a honeycomb, coral, earwax—in short, anything. — Alfredo Toriello, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

When a reef collapses, hard corals disappear and are replaced by algae, rubble and sponges. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing coral

• brain coral
• coral bells
• coral reef
• coral snake
• elkhorn coral
• fire coral
• red coral
• staghorn coral

Rhymes for coral

• aural
• chloral
• choral
• floral
• forel
• lauryl
• loral
• moral
• quarrel
• sorel
• sorrel
• toral

Kids 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