I. ˈkȯrəl, ˈkär- sometimes ˈkōr- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin corallum, corallium, from Greek korallion
1.
a. : a skeletal deposit produced especially by certain anthozoan polyps:
(1) : the richly red precious coral secreted by a gorgonian ( Corallium nobile )
(2) : any marine deposit like coral resulting from vital activities of various organisms (as hydrocorals, stony corals, certain algae, or bryozoans and worms)
b. : a polyp or polyp colony together with its membranes and skeleton, the majority being compound animals resembling small sea anemones united into branching, encrusting, or more or less solid colonies by a continuous sheet of tissue that together with the basal epidermis of the individual polyps secretes the largely calcareous skeletal framework, the colony enlarging by asexual reproduction of the individual polyps and new colonies being established by motile planulae produced by sexual reproduction — often used with a qualifying term
rose coral
mushroom coral
brain coral
2. : a piece of coral ; especially : a piece of coral or other material often fitted with small bells and given to infants as a plaything or teething ring
3. : something bright red in color: as
a. : a bright-reddish ovary (as that of a lobster or scallop) ; also : the cooked roe of a lobster
b. : a variable color averaging a deep pink that is yellower and duller than fiesta or begonia and yellower and darker than sweet William
c. of textiles : a strong pink that is yellower and stronger than carnation rose, bluer, stronger, and slightly lighter than rose d'Althaea, and lighter, stronger, and slightly yellower than sea pink
II. adjective
1. : of coral
2. : of the color coral red or coral
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: coral (II)
: to make coral red or coral in color