English Explanatory Dictionary

coral

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species.
  2. A hard substance made of the skeletons of these organisms.
  3. A somewhat yellowish orange-pink color; the color of red coral (Corallium rubrum) of the Mediterranean Sea, commonly used as an ornament or gem.
  4. The ovaries of a cooked lobster; so called from their color.
  5. A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.
adj
  1. Made of coral.
  2. Having the orange-pink color of coral.
noun
  1. Obsolete form of corral.
verb
  1. Obsolete form of corral.
name
  1. A census-designated place in McHenry County, Illinois, United States.
  2. A female given name from English.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒɹəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-coral.wav /ˈkɔɚɹəl/ En-coral.ogg /ˈkɔɹəl/

Word forms

coral corals coraling coralling coraled coralled

Etymology

From Old French coral (French corail), from Latin corallium, from Ancient Greek κοράλλιον (korállion, “coral”). Probably ultimately of Semitic origin, compare Hebrew גּוֹרָל (goral, “small pebble”), Arabic جَرَل (jaral, “small stone”), originally referring to the red variety found in the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, a common folk etymology, accepted by some earlier scholars, connected the word instead to Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē) (referring to Medusa). Beekes mentions both theories and considers the Semitic one convincing.

Related words

atoll barrier reef dactylozooid fringing reef gonophore gorgonian Great Barrier Reef madrepore millepore sea fan sea whip

Derived words

angel skin coral bamboo coral black coral blue coral brain coral brainstone coral branch coral brush coral bubblegum coral burrowing false coral cactus coral cauliflower coral chain coral club finger coral coral aloe coral bean coral bells coral berry coralberry coral bleaching coralbush coral catshark coral creeper coraled coral fern coralfish coral fungus Coral Gables coral heath coral insect coralise coralize coral island corallaceous coraller corallet corallian coralliferous coralliform coralligenous coralligerous corallike coralline corallite corallivore corallivorous coralloid coralloidal corally coral necklace coralology coral plant coral rag coral reef coralroot Coral Sea coral snake Coral Springs coral stitch coral swirl
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