coral
Meanings
Plural: corals
Noun
- a variable color averaging a deep pink
- the hard stony skeleton of a Mediterranean coral that has a delicate red or pink color and is used for jewelry
- unfertilized lobster roe; reddens in cooking; used as garnish or to color sauces
- marine colonial polyp characterized by a calcareous skeleton; masses in a variety of shapes often forming reefs
- 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.
- A hard substance made of the skeletons of these organisms.
- A somewhat yellowish orange-pink color; the color of red coral (Corallium rubrum) of the Mediterranean Sea, commonly used as an ornament or gem.
- The ovaries of a cooked lobster; so called from their color.
- A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.
- Obsolete form of corral.
Adjective Satellite
- of a strong pink to yellowish-pink color
Adj
- Made of coral.
- Having the orange-pink color of coral.
Verb
- Obsolete form of corral.
Origin / 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.
Synonyms
precious coral, red coral
Scrabble Score: 7
coral is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordcoral is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
coral is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary