plural coals
often attributive
1
: a piece of glowing carbon or charred wood : ember
2
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
coals plural, British
: pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning
coaled; coaling; coals
: to take in coal
Phrases
haul/rake (someone) over the coals
informal
: to criticize (someone) very severely
The government was then raked over the coals for refusing to send out information about the candidates.—
The Economist
The EconomistThe Headmaster was angry. So angry, indeed, that he did what in a more lucid interval he would not have done. He hauled a senior over the coals in the hearing of a number of juniors …—P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. WodehouseExamples of coal in a Sentence
Noun
When the coals are red, they are very hot.
I toasted one last marshmallow over the coals of the campfire.
Recent Examples on the WebRyan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
But the department had not updated its method of calculating MPG for EVs since 2000, when highly-polluting coal powered more of the U.S. electrical grid and EV adoption was virtually nonexistent.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Emissions from coal accounted for more than 65% of the increase in 2023, according to an International Energy Agency report released in March.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Mohave Energy Park is also expected to produce much less sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide — compared with energy generation from coal or diesel.
—The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Fast forward to 1995, when workers at an open-face coal mine in northern Germany discovered 2-meter-long spruce spears and other wooden artifacts embedded in the former lakeshore.
—Byandrew Curry, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
Steam coal, primarily used for electric power generation and industrial heating, constitutes the predominant type of coal exported from the Port of Baltimore.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The proposal of the rules last year faced strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who said President Joe Biden's Democratic administration has hampered oil, gas and coal development, and favors conservation over development.
—Matthew Brown, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The Navy built a coaling station in 1901, about the same time Katherine Tingley established her Lomaland headquarters for the Theosophical Society, now the Point Loma Nazarene University campus.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2023
Noun
Russia was also Germany’s primary source of oil and coal imports.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
But the department had not updated its method of calculating MPG for EVs since 2000, when highly-polluting coal powered more of the U.S. electrical grid and EV adoption was virtually nonexistent.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Emissions from coal accounted for more than 65% of the increase in 2023, according to an International Energy Agency report released in March.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Mohave Energy Park is also expected to produce much less sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide — compared with energy generation from coal or diesel.
—The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Fast forward to 1995, when workers at an open-face coal mine in northern Germany discovered 2-meter-long spruce spears and other wooden artifacts embedded in the former lakeshore.
—Byandrew Curry, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
Steam coal, primarily used for electric power generation and industrial heating, constitutes the predominant type of coal exported from the Port of Baltimore.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The proposal of the rules last year faced strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who said President Joe Biden's Democratic administration has hampered oil, gas and coal development, and favors conservation over development.
—Matthew Brown, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The arrival of steam power turned mines and coaling stations into crucial strategic assets.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The Navy built a coaling station in 1901, about the same time Katherine Tingley established her Lomaland headquarters for the Theosophical Society, now the Point Loma Nazarene University campus.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coal.' 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 coal
Cite this Entry
“Coal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coal. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coal
2 of 2 verb1
: to supply with coal
2
: to take in coal
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