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

The tide pools around Haystack and elsewhere along Cannon Beach are extraordinary, with colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, coral, sponges, and sea slugs. —Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

But closer analysis revealed it was made of fibrous layers packed with stinging cells, pointing to a connection with cnidarians, the group that includes corals and anemones. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026

The facility will also continue the work of Mote Marine Laboratory scientists who have restored more than 200,000 corals to the reef and continue to work on corals at the park, Linafelt said. —David Goodhue april 22, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

Beneath me, a dozen green bumphead parrotfish darted into view, coral bloomed in seemingly impossible shades of red and blue, and schools of purple fry drifted past, as if inviting me to follow. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 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