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
Examples of coral in a Sentence
brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral
Recent Examples on the Web
The ghost goby in particular, being partially translucent, can blend perfectly with surrounding coral.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Float above vibrant coral or dive deeper to check out shipwrecks along the Maritime Heritage Trail; there's something incredible waiting at every depth.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2025
The planetary boundary for ocean acidification is defined as a 20% decline from the pre-industrial aragonite saturation state, a measure of ocean water's ability to support calcifying organisms such as corals and shellfish.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Take your pick of 16 colors, including seasonal hues like coral and bright turquoise.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for coral
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Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Float above vibrant coral or dive deeper to check out shipwrecks along the Maritime Heritage Trail; there's something incredible waiting at every depth.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2025
The planetary boundary for ocean acidification is defined as a 20% decline from the pre-industrial aragonite saturation state, a measure of ocean water's ability to support calcifying organisms such as corals and shellfish.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Take your pick of 16 colors, including seasonal hues like coral and bright turquoise.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for coral
Cite this Entry
“Coral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coral. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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