coal

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of…

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

   • 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.
2. 2

   A piece of coal used for burning (this use is less common in American English)

   • Put some coals on the fire.
3. 3

   A glowing or charred piece of coal, wood, or other solid fuel.

   • 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.
4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Charcoal.

   2. 5

      Content of low quality.

      • I'm so sick of seeing this coal online.
   3. 6

      Bombs emitting black smoke on impact.

   4. 7

      Money.

   5. 8

      To take on a supply of coal (usually of steam ships or locomotives).

      • Our next stopping-place was Newcastle, and here we coaled in earnest, for the steamer was flying light, and was loaded up in every available place.
      • The light shook and splintered in the puddles. A red glare came from an outward-bound steamer that was coaling.
   6. 9

      To supply with coal.

      • to coal a steamer
      • January 1917, National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 Number 1, One Hundred British Seaports Cruisers may be coaled at sea and provided with ammunition openly. The submarine may not
   7. 10

      To be converted to charcoal.

      • After the initial burn the goal of any good fire should be coaling; that is, creating a bed of solid coals that will sustain the fire.
      • As a result, particles of wood and twigs insufficiently coaled are frequently found at the bottom of such pits.
   8. 11

      To burn to charcoal

      To burn to charcoal; to char.

      • Char-coal of roots, coaled into great pieces.
   9. 12

      To mark or delineate with charcoal.

      • […] marvailing, he coaled out these rithms upon the wall near to the picture
   10. 13

       Black like coal

       Black like coal; coal-black.

       • ... his coal hair / the corners of his warm smile / the blue of his gentle eyes. I wanted to explore him as Sir Francis Drake explored the New World. I wanted to tell my secrets to him as a Roman Catholic does in confession.
       • His coal hair streaked through the gushing of freezing air and the base of the silk robe fluttered splendidly. The Lord of Blood, adorned with glossy armor and atop a stalwart steed, appeared to have the opulence of a king. White hills[…]
       • Just entering the ballroom were a cat and a bird. The cat had black ears nestled in his coal hair and a purple mask over his violet eyes. He had a long ebony tail. 99 9.
   11. 14

       An unincorporated community in Henry County, Missouri, United States, named after early…

       An unincorporated community in Henry County, Missouri, United States, named after early settler Stephen Coale.

   12. 15

       An unincorporated community and coal town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States.

   13. 16

       Four townships in the United States, in Missouri, Ohio (2), and Pennsylvania, listed…

       Four townships in the United States, in Missouri, Ohio (2), and Pennsylvania, listed under Coal Township.

The neighborhood

• neighborcharcoal
• neighborcollier
• neighborcolliery
• neighborember
• neighborstockpile
• neighboranthracite
• neighborbituminous coal
• neighborbrown coal
• neighborlignite
• neighborseacoal
• neighborsea coal
• neighborsoft coal