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coal

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈkoʊɫ// UK //kˈəʊl// coal
  1. 1 fossil fuel (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Science

    a hard black rock from underground that is burned to produce heat or electricity.

    a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock used as a solid fossil fuel. Uncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to types or pieces.

    Example

    The old power station burned coal to create electricity for the whole city.

    Example

    Despite the global shift toward renewable energy, several developing economies still rely heavily on coal to meet their industrial power demands.
    • fossil fuel
    • anthracite
  2. 2 burning ember (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a glowing piece of wood or fuel in a fire.

    a piece of glowing or charred wood, charcoal, or other solid fuel in a fire.

    Example

    We roasted marshmallows over the red coals of the campfire.

    Example

    As the flames died down, the hikers huddled closer to the glowing coals to stay warm through the freezing night.
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  1. 3 bad internet content (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Informal Computing

    very low-quality or boring content found on the internet.

    a slang term used in online subcultures to describe content perceived as low-quality, forced, or unappealing.

    Example

    Don't bother clicking that link; it's just pure coal.

    Example

    The forum was quickly overwhelmed by users posting coal, making it nearly impossible to find any meaningful discussion.
  2. 4 to supply with fuel (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    to provide a ship or train with a supply of coal.

    to supply a vessel or locomotive with coal; also used intransitively to describe the act of taking on such a supply.

    Example

    The steamship stopped at the port to coal before crossing the ocean.

    Example

    The logistics of coaling a fleet of steam-powered warships required a global network of strategic supply stations.
  3. 5 colour (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    having a very dark black colour, like coal.

    of the colour of coal; jet-black. Usually used in the compound 'coal-black'.

    Example

    The cat had coal black fur that shone in the sunlight.

    Example

    The stallion's coal coat provided a stark contrast to the white winter landscape through which it galloped.
    • jet black
    • inky
    • snow white
Origin

From Middle English cole, from Old English col, from Proto-West Germanic kol, from Proto-Germanic kulą, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵwelH- (“to burn, shine”). Cognate with West Frisian koal (“coal”), Cimbrian kholl (“coal”), Dutch kool (“coal; carbon”), German Kohle (“coal”), Luxembourgish Kuel (“coal”), Vilamovian köła (“coal”), Yiddish קויל (koyl, “coal”), Danish kul (“coal”), Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish kol (“coal; carbon”), Jamtish kuł (“coal; carbon”). Compare Middle Irish gúal (“coal”), Lithuanian žvi̇̀lti (“to twinkle, glow”), Persian زغال (zoġâl, “live coal”), Sanskrit ज्वल् (jval, “to burn, glow”), Tocharian B śoliye (“hearth”), all from the same root.

Idioms1 entry

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