coal

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 compounds
2. a piece (or collectively, pieces) of this rock
3. a piece of glowing or charred wood, coal, or similar substance; ember
4. charcoal
vt.
1. to reduce (a substance) to charcoal by burning
2. to provide with coal
vi.
to take in a supply of coal
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haul over the coals or rake over the coals or drag over the coals or call over the coals
to criticize sharply; censure; scold
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heap coals of fire on someone's head
to cause someone to feel remorse by returning good for evil: Prov. 25:22

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Coal — Sedimentary Rock Anthracite coal Composition Primary carbon Secondary hydrogen, sulfur …   Wikipedia

  • Coal — (k[=o]l), n. [AS. col; akin to D. kool, OHG. chol, cholo, G. kohle, Icel. kol, pl., Sw. kol, Dan. kul; cf. Skr. jval to burn. Cf. {Kiln}, {Collier}.] 1. A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from wood or other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coal — [ koul ] noun *** uncount a hard black substance that is dug from the ground and burned as fuel to provide heat: Put some more coal on the fire. coal dust a piece/lump of coal a. uncount used for talking about the industry of digging coal out of… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • coal — W2S3 [kəul US koul] n [: Old English; Origin: col] 1.) [U] a hard black mineral which is dug out of the ground and burnt to produce heat ▪ Put some coal on the fire. ▪ the coal mining industry ▪ a lump of coal 2.) [C usually plural] a piece of… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • coal — O.E. col charcoal, live coal, from P.Gmc. *kula(n) (Cf. O.Fris. kole, M.Du. cole, Du. kool, O.H.G. chol, Ger. Kohle, O.N. kol), from PIE root *g(e)u lo live coal (Cf. Ir. gual coal ). Meaning mineral consisting of fo …   Etymology dictionary

  • Coal — Coal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coaled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Coaling}.] 1. To burn to charcoal; to char. [R.] [1913 Webster] Charcoal of roots, coaled into great pieces. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. To mark or delineate with charcoal. Camden. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coal — Coal, v. i. To take in coal; as, the steamer coaled at Southampton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coal|er — «KOH luhr», noun. 1. a ship, freight car, or railroad, used for carrying or supplying coal. 2. a worker or merchant who supplies coal …   Useful english dictionary

  • coal|y — «KOH lee», adjective. 1. of or like coal. 2. containing coal …   Useful english dictionary

  • Coal — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Véase también: Carbón Es un fósil compuesto de combustibles y de otras substancias, por lo general se encuentran en ecosistemas pantanosos, donde los restos de las plantas son cubiertos por agua y lodo, y así, se… …   Wikipedia Español

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