plural coals
often attributive
1
: a piece of glowing carbon or charred wood : ember
2
3
a
: a black or brownish-black solid combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased pressure and temperature that is widely used as a natural fuel
b
coals plural, British
: pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning
coaled; coaling; coals
: to take in coal
Phrases
haul/rake (someone) over the coals
informal
: to criticize (someone) very severely
The government was then raked over the coals for refusing to send out information about the candidates.—
The Economist
The EconomistThe Headmaster was angry. So angry, indeed, that he did what in a more lucid interval he would not have done. He hauled a senior over the coals in the hearing of a number of juniors …—P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. WodehouseExamples of coal in a Sentence
Noun
When the coals are red, they are very hot.
I toasted one last marshmallow over the coals of the campfire.
Recent Examples on the Web
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
These are the canaries in the coal mine for both parties, highly competitive races in states that report their votes early and quickly.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The Navy built a coaling station in 1901, about the same time Katherine Tingley established her Lomaland headquarters for the Theosophical Society, now the Point Loma Nazarene University campus.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for coal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The increase is attributed to higher seaborne thermal coal pricing.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
These are the canaries in the coal mine for both parties, highly competitive races in states that report their votes early and quickly.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The arrival of steam power turned mines and coaling stations into crucial strategic assets.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The Navy built a coaling station in 1901, about the same time Katherine Tingley established her Lomaland headquarters for the Theosophical Society, now the Point Loma Nazarene University campus.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for coal
Dictionary Entries Near coal
Cite this Entry
“Coal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coal. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coal
2 of 2 verb1
: to supply with coal
2
: to take in coal
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share