Definition of coral
1a : 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
3a : a bright reddish ovary (as of a lobster or scallop)b : a deep pink
coral
adjectiveExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of coral in a Sentence
brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral
Recent Examples of coral from the Web
-
Despite the previous night’s rain, the fish and coral were bright and clear.
-
A study of coral bleaching on the reef, published in the journal Nature in March, focused international attention on the devastation to coral expanses dealt by rising ocean temperatures off Australia’s coast.
-
Tassels (similar to shown): TopAccessories21 mini tassels, 1 inch, in light camel, $2 for 10; and silk handmade tassels, 2.3 inches, in coral, $2.50 for six, topaccessories21.etsy.com.
-
Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii: This white coral beach is surrounded by the flows of an old lava rock bed.
-
Its clear, blue water is home to brightly colored corals that attract even more colorful fish.
-
Protected from wind and waves but continuously refreshed by the ocean spill-over, a lagoon’s unique ecosystem nurtures birds, fish, crabs, clams, mollusks, coral and every other marine organism including people.
-
Tucked into a humid corner of Central America, Belize rises from Caribbean coral, cayes, and atolls in the east, to coastal wetlands and savannas, and finally to upland pine forests and river valleys in the west.
-
Greenhouse gases threaten to turn ocean water acidic, literally dissolving the world’s corals and tiny, foundation-of-the-food-chain shellfish.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coral'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of coral
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms
CORAL Defined for English Language Learners
coral
playDefinition of coral for English Language Learners
-
: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures
-
: an orange pink color
CORAL Defined for Kids
Definition of coral for Students
1 : a tiny soft-bodied animal that typically lives within a stony skeleton grouped in large colonies and that is related to the jellyfish
2 : a piece of stony material consisting of the skeletons of corals
3 : a colony of corals coral reef
4 : a dark pink
Definition of coral for Students
1 : made of coral a coral reef
2 : of a dark pink color
Learn More about coral
-
See words that rhyme with coral Spanish Central: Translation of coral Nglish: Translation of coral for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coral
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up coral? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!