n.
Pronunciation: ' ko ̇ r- ə l, ' kär-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion
Date: 14th century
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
– cor · al · loid \ - ə - ˌ lo ̇ id \ adjective