coral

Pluralcorals

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A small sea animal that lives in large groups and builds a hard, stony skeleton.

   Like tiny builders that pile up stone to make an underwater city.

   A bright coral grew slowly on the warm reef.

   Divers found tiny corals clinging to the sunken ship.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   The hard, stony material made from the skeletons of tiny sea animals.

   Like rock that slowly forms from the leftover shells of living things.

   The bracelet was carved from smooth red coral.

   Workers polished small pieces of coral to make beads.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A pinkish-orange color, like that of the red coral used in jewelry.

   Like the soft orange-pink you see in a tropical sunset.

   She painted her bedroom a soft coral.

   The roses bloomed in a bright coral.

   Similarsalmon, peach

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Having a pinkish-orange color, like coral.

   She wore a coral dress to the party.

   The nursery had coral curtains and a white crib.

   Similarsalmon, peach

5. 5
   adjective

   Made out of the hard material called coral.

   She wore a coral necklace carved from a single branch.

   The old chest held carved coral beads and silver coins.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The pink egg part found inside a cooked female lobster.

   The chef scraped the bright coral from the lobster shell.

   Lobster coral gives the sauce its rich pink color.

   Similarroe

7. 7
   nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable

   A baby's toy made from a piece of coral, often with small bells attached.

   Like a rattle, but made from a smooth piece of coral.

   The nurse gave the crying baby its coral to chew on.

   On the very chair which I used to occupy when I was at work Marian was sitting now, with the child industriously sucking his coral upon her lap.

   1859, Wilkie Collins, The Woman in WhiteHere, coral means a baby's toy made from a piece of coral.

   Similarteether, rattle

   Note

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