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

Since joining, the aquarium has taken in more than 3,300 trafficked animals, including axolotls, corals, reptiles and fish. — John Donegan Long Beach Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Global ocean temperatures are already at record highs, raising concerns about the compounding effects of El Niño and global warming effects on corals and other sea life, particularly along the west coast of the Americas and Australia. — Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

This year, funding was supposed to ramp up to $25 million a year to pay for boats, air tanks, and divers to get the corals out of the nurseries and onto the reef. — Nicolás Rivero, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

The geographic features are hot spots of biodiversity, with corals, sponges and even an octopus garden, just like in the Beatles song. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 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