coral
coral definition
coral (kôr′əl, kär′-)
noun
- the hard, stony skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps (class Anthozoa) and often deposited in extensive masses forming reefs and atolls in tropical seas
- any such polyp (esp. order Scleractinia) living singly or in large colonies
- a piece of coral, esp. the red kind used in jewelry
- the mature ovaries of the lobster
- a yellowish red or yellowish pinkalso called coral red or coral pink
Etymology: OFr < L coralium < Gr korallion < ? Heb gōrál, pebble or Ar garal, small stone
adjective
- made of coral
- coral-red or coral-pink
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Share on Facebook