I. ˈkōl noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English cole, from Old English col; akin to Old High German & Old Norse kol coal of fire, Irish Gaelic gual coal, Armenian krak glowing coals
1.
a. : a piece of carbon or charred wood or other combustible substance glowing without flame : a hot ember
food cooked on the coals
burned by a coal from the grate
heated by a bed of hot coals
b. : a piece of charred wood or other combustible substance more or less completely consumed : cinder
2. : charcoal 1
3.
a. : a black or brownish black solid combustible mineral substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and in many cases increased pressure and temperature, the substance being widely used as a natural fuel and containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur as well as inorganic constituents that are left behind as ash after burning — see anthracite , bituminous coal , coke , lignite ;; compare peat
b. coals plural , Britain : pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning
a ton of coals
c. : a particular kind or size of coal
a good stove coal
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to convert to charcoal by burning : char
coal a cord of wood in one day
2. : to supply with coal for fuel
coal a steamer
intransitive verb
: to take in coal
the steamer coaled as soon as she reached port