coral

coral [kôr′əl, kär′əl]

n.

[OFr < L coralium < Gr korallion < ? Heb gōrál, pebble or Ar garal, small stone]

1. the hard, stony skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps (class Anthozoa) and often deposited in extensive masses forming reefs and atolls in tropical seas

2. any such polyp (esp. order Scleractinia) living singly or in large colonies

3. a piece of coral, esp. the red kind used in jewelry

4. the mature ovaries of the lobster

5. a yellowish red or yellowish pink: also called coral red or coral pink

adj.

1. made of coral

2. coral-red or coral-pink