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
Examples of coral in a Sentence
brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral
Recent Examples on the Web
For the other challenge, teams had to attach five species of coral onto a framed structure, then snorkel out to sea and plant it on the ocean floor.
—
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s over 500 species of fish, 60 species of hard and soft coral, and plenty of mollusks, algae and seagrasses.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
This is the only species of coral known to reproduce in the daylight instead of at night.
—Brianna Randall, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coral
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Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s over 500 species of fish, 60 species of hard and soft coral, and plenty of mollusks, algae and seagrasses.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
This is the only species of coral known to reproduce in the daylight instead of at night.
—Brianna Randall, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coral
Cite this Entry
“Coral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coral. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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