- coal
- coal [kōl]n.[ME & OE col, charcoal, live coal, akin to Ger kohle, ON kol < IE base * g(e)u-lo-, live coal > Ir gual]1. a kind of dark brown to black, combustible, sedimentary rock resulting from the partial decomposition of vegetable matter away from air and under varying degrees of increased temperature and pressure over a period of millions of years: used as a fuel and in the production of coke, coal gas, water gas, and many coal-tar compounds2. a piece (or collectively, pieces) of this rock3. a piece of glowing or charred wood, coal, or similar substance; ember4. charcoalvt.1. to reduce (a substance) to charcoal by burning2. to provide with coalvi.to take in a supply of coal——————haul over the coals or rake over the coals or drag over the coals or call over the coalsto criticize sharply; censure; scold——————heap coals of fire on someone's headto cause someone to feel remorse by returning good for evil: Prov. 25:22
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.