coral
gb/kˈɔɹəl/ us/kˈɔɹəl/
A2
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
tiny marine animals and their skeletons
A hard material in the sea, made by many very small animals living together, that often forms large reefs in warm water.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'coral' with 'coal' because they look similar in writing. 'Coral' is found in the sea and is usually light-colored or bright; 'coal' is a black rock used as fuel. Some learners also think coral is a kind of plant, but it is made by small animals.
Synonyms
reef (Often refers to the larger structure made of coral and rock, not the individual animals themselves.)
Collocations
coral reef
|coral bleaching
|coral polyps
|coral species
|coral habitat
Themes
nature
|environment
|science
|animals
Examples
- Many fish use coral as a hiding place from predators.
- Coral grows best in warm, clear, shallow water.
- Scientists are studying how rising sea temperatures affect coral.
- Boats are not allowed to drop anchor on the coral in this protected area.
Learner examples
- Colorful fish swim around the coral.
- People on the boat look down and see coral in the water.
- The government wants to protect the coral from damage.
- Divers took photos of the bright coral under the sea.
Noun
A2
entity
2
a pinkish-orange color
A color between pink and orange, like many pieces of coral from the sea.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat 'coral' only as a noun for the sea animal and forget it is also a color word. In fashion and design, if someone says 'It comes in coral,' they are talking about the color, not the material.
Synonyms
salmon (A very similar pink-orange color name, but often slightly softer or less bright than coral.)
Collocations
coral color
|bright coral
|soft coral
|coral shade
|coral hue
Themes
colors
|fashion
|art
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She painted her bedroom a warm coral.
- Coral is a popular color for summer dresses.
- The sky turned a deep coral at sunset.
- He chose coral as one of the main colors for the logo.
Learner examples
- Her new bag is coral.
- I like the coral on this wall.
- The sky is coral in the evening.
- She wants a coral dress for the party.
adjective
A2
property
3
having a coral color
Having a color between pink and orange, like coral from the sea.
Usage pattern:
[someone] wears a coral [item]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add 'colored' and say 'a coral colored dress.' While this is not wrong, in modern English we usually just say 'a coral dress.' Also, do not say 'a coral color dress'; use 'a coral dress' instead.
Synonyms
pinkish-orange (A more descriptive phrase that explains the shade clearly but sounds less like a standard color name.)
Collocations
coral dress
|coral lipstick
|coral shirt
|coral nail polish
|coral flowers
Themes
colors
|fashion
|art
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She wore a coral dress to the wedding.
- He chose coral curtains to brighten the living room.
- The model’s coral lipstick matched her shoes.
- They decorated the invitations with coral flowers and gold letters.
Learner examples
- She is wearing a coral skirt.
- I bought a coral shirt yesterday.
- Her coral nails look very nice.
- We put coral pillows on the sofa.
Noun
B1
entity
4
coral used as jewelry material
Hard pieces of coral that people cut and polish to make jewelry or decorations.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'coral' jewelry is always bright orange, but jewelry coral can also be deep red, pink, or white. Also, not all 'coral-colored' jewelry is made from real coral; sometimes it is just plastic in that color.
Synonyms
gemstone (A more general word for any cut and polished mineral or material used in jewelry; coral is one kind of gemstone material.)
Collocations
coral necklace
|coral beads
|red coral
|coral earrings
|string of coral
Themes
fashion
|jewelry
|materials
|clothing
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She inherited a string of antique coral from her grandmother.
- The market was full of stalls selling coral bracelets and silver rings.
- Some countries restrict the sale of coral to protect the reefs.
- He bought a pair of coral earrings as a gift.
Learner examples
- My grandmother gave me a coral necklace.
- These coral beads are very old.
- Tourists buy coral rings at the beach shop.
- They do not sell real coral in this store.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coral
IPA
GB/kˈɔɹəl/
US/kˈɔɹəl/
Syllables & stress
cor - al (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: coral
Noun
- Base: coral
- Plural: coral, corals
Word family
Forms
corals
noun
Expressions
coral bleaching
1/kˈɔɹəl blˈit͡ʃɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
coral losing its color and health
A process where coral turns white and becomes weak or dies because the sea is too hot or polluted.
Examples
- Scientists warn that coral bleaching events are becoming more frequent.
- Rising ocean temperatures have caused severe coral bleaching in the area.
coral island
1/kˈɔɹəl ˈaɪlənd/
fixed phrase
island formed from coral reefs
A small, low island in warm seas that is made mostly from coral and sand.
Examples
- They spent their honeymoon on a tiny coral island in the Indian Ocean.
- Many coral islands are only a few meters above sea level.
coral pink
1/kˈɔɹəl pˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
a light coral color shade
A light color between pink and orange, like soft coral.
Examples
- She painted her nails coral pink for the summer party.
- The walls are a gentle coral pink that makes the room feel warm.
coral snake
1/kˈɔɹəl snˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
a brightly colored venomous snake
A small but very poisonous snake with red, yellow, and black bands on its body.
Examples
- You need to be careful of coral snakes when walking in the woods here.
- The child was taken to the hospital after a coral snake bite.
coral reef
1/kˈɔɹəl ɹˈif/
fixed phrase
large underwater ridge of coral
A big line or area under the sea made from many pieces of coral growing together.
Examples
- The coral reef near the island attracts thousands of tourists every year.
- Snorkeling over a coral reef, we saw bright fish of every color.
- Coral reef ecosystems are very sensitive to changes in water temperature.
- Coral reef conservation has become a major environmental priority.