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

There are solid colors available, like light blue, coral, and lavender, plus floral patterns and swiss dot designs. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024

Ross Cunning, a coral biologist with Shedd, said researchers can use technology onboard to test how well the coral absorbs sunlight and observe what temperature and speed cause corals to bleach. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Warm waters caused some of the worst bleaching events ever observed in Florida and the Caribbean Sea, with stressed corals turning white and expelling the photosynthetic algae that lives in their tissue. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2024

More than just ornate, these corals are dynamic animals equipped with stinging cells and bioluminescence to fend off predators like nudibranchs and sea stars. —Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

Covering nearly 133,000 square miles (345,000 square kilometers), the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, home to more than 1,500 species of fish and 411 species of hard corals. —Helen Regan, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024

Each species depends on one kind of prey, ranging from sponges and corals to anemones, jellyfish and even other nudibranchs. —Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Several green and hawksbill turtles are darting in and out of a vibrant coral cliff with seemingly millions of species, from sculpins to sun coral and everything in between. —Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2024

Bleaching does not necessarily kill corals, but the process causes reefs to become more susceptible to disease. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024

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

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