Question 1 · Quick check
coral
CEFRB2
/ˈkɒɹəl/
noun
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
noun
A hard colorful substance formed by tiny sea animals.
- 02
noun
Extra detailA hard substance made of the skeletons of these organisms.
Examples
Coral reefs attract a variety of beautiful marine life.
I went snorkeling in a beautiful coral reef.
At a glance
Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 2
Deep Dive
noun
Extra meaningsA somewhat yellowish orange-pink color; the color of red coral (Corallium rubrum) of the Mediterranean Sea, commonly used as an ornament or gem.
Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species.
The ovaries of a cooked lobster; so called from their color.
More examples
In contextThe coral faded even from her lips, till they were as white as Leo's face, and quivered pitifully.
On the very chair which I used to occupy when I was at work Marian was sitting now, with the child industriously sucking his coral upon her lap.
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.
Nearby
Origin
noun
From Old French coral (French corail), from Latin corallium, from Ancient Greek κοράλλιον (korállion, “coral”). Probably ultimately of Semitic origin, compare Hebrew גּוֹרָל (goral, “small pebble”), Arabic جَرَل (jaral, “small stone”), originally referring to the red variety found in the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, a common folk etymology, accepted by some earlier scholars, connected the word instead to Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē) (referring to Medusa). Beekes mentions both theories and considers the Semitic one convincing.