coal S2 W2 /kəʊl $ koʊl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: col ]
1 . [uncountable] a hard black mineral which is dug out of the ground and burnt to produce heat:
Put some coal on the fire.
the coal mining industry
a lump of coal
2 . [countable usually plural] a piece of coal, especially one that is burning:
Red hot coals glowed in the grate.
3 . [countable usually plural] American English a piece of wood or coal that is burning ⇨ charcoal :
Grill over hot coals for two minutes.
4 . carry/take coals to Newcastle British English to take something to a place where there is already plenty of it available
5 . haul/rake/drag somebody over the coals to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong