Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

coal

Pronunciation: /kəʊl/
Translate coal | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of coal

noun

[mass noun]
  • a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting chiefly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground seams and used as fuel: two bags of coal [as modifier]:a coal fire
  • [count noun] British a piece of coal: men were loading coals into a wagon
  • [count noun] a red-hot piece of coal or other material in a fire:the glowing coals

verb

[with object]
  • provide with a supply of coal: (as noun coaling)the coaling and watering of the engine
  • [no object] mine or extract coal:we have now finished coaling at the site

Phrases

coals to Newcastle

something supplied to a place where it is already plentiful.

haul someone over the coals

British reprimand someone severely: bank chiefs are to be hauled over the coals by the Chancellor

Derivatives

coaly

adjective

Origin:

Old English col (in the senses 'glowing ember' and 'charred remnant'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kool and German Kohle. The sense 'combustible mineral used as fuel' dates from Middle English

coal in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of coal in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

ludology

/ luːˈdɒlədʒi /
noun
the study of games and gaming, especially video games …