coral Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a variable color averaging a deep pink
noun the hard stony skeleton of a Mediterranean coral that has a delicate red or pink color and is used for jewelry
precious coral; red coral.
noun unfertilized lobster roe; reddens in cooking; used as garnish or to color sauces
noun marine colonial polyp characterized by a calcareous skeleton; masses in a variety of shapes often forming reefs
adjective satellite of a strong pink to yellowish-pink color

Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora`llion.

(Zoöl.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. ✍ The large stony corals forming coral reefs belong to various genera of Madreporaria, and to the hydroid genus, Millepora. The red coral, used in jewelry, is the stony axis of the stem of a gorgonian (Corallium rubrum) found chiefly in the Mediterranean. The fan corals, plume corals, and sea feathers are species of Gorgoniacea, in which the axis is horny. Organ-pipe coral is formed by the genus Tubipora, an Alcyonarian, and black coral is in part the axis of species of the genus Antipathes. See Anthozoa, Madrepora.
The ovaries of a cooked lobster; -- so called from their color.
A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.