Coal

/kəʊl/ · noun

Meaning

(uncountable) A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
2. (countable) A piece of coal used for burning (this use is less common in American English)
3. (countable) A glowing or charred piece of coal, wood, or other solid fuel.
4. Charcoal.
5. (Internet slang) Content of low quality.
6. (military slang, World War I– World War II) Bombs emitting black smoke on impact.
7. (slang, obsolete) Money.
8. (intransitive) To take on a supply of coal (usually of steam ships or locomotives).

Example Sentences

The coal in this region was prized by ironmasters in centuries past, who mined it in the spots where the drainage methods of the day permitted.

Coal-eaters they may have been, but a more willing or harder working Atlantic engine was never designed.

Put some coals on the fire.

hot coals

glowing coals

Just as the campfire died down to just coals, with no flames to burn the marshmallows, someone dumped a whole load of wood on, so I gave up and went to bed.

I'm so sick of seeing this coal online.

1863, Colonial Secretary to Commander Baldwin, USN shortly after that she coaled again at Simon's Bay; and that after remaining in the neighbourhood of our ports for a time, she proceeded to Mauritius, where she coaled again, and then returned to this colony.

Synonyms for coal

Antonyms for coal

Related Words

Word Forms

• coals
• cole
• coale
• colle
• coole
• coell
• coile
• coaling
• coaled
• coalest

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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