coal
kohl
Coal (noun) means a black or dark brown rock, formed from ancient plant matter, burned as fuel. Example: “The old house was heated with coal.”
noun
1
A black or dark brown rock, formed from ancient plant matter, burned as fuel.
"Coal-eaters they may have been, but a more willing or harder working Atlantic engine was never designed."
— , The Aberdonian (1947)
"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."
"The old house was heated with coal."
"The old steam train's engine ran on coal and needed regular refuelling."
"Miners once dug coal from deep under this hill."
2
A glowing or burnt piece of fuel, such as from a fire.
"They roasted marshmallows over the 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."
"He poked the dying fire until a red coal glowed again."
"A hot coal popped out of the grate and landed on the rug."
How to use coal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rock burned for fuel, or a burning ember from a fire.
Common pairings
lump of coal
burning coals
coal mine
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Word forms
- Plural
- coals
- Third person singular
- coals
- Past tense
- coaled
- Superlative
- coalest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old house was heated with _____.
Etymology
From Old English col, from a very old Germanic word ultimately meaning "to burn" or "to shine".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for coal
See all rhymes for coal →Frequently asked questions
What does “coal” mean?
The word “coal” means a black or dark brown rock, formed from ancient plant matter, burned as fuel. In plain terms, a rock burned for fuel, or a burning ember from a fire.
How do you pronounce “coal”?
“Coal” is pronounced kohl (/koʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “coal” in a sentence?
Here is “coal” used in a sentence: “The old house was heated with coal.”
What part of speech is “coal”?
“Coal” is a noun.
Where does the word “coal” come from?
The word “coal” comes from Old English. From Old English col, from a very old Germanic word ultimately meaning "to burn" or "to shine".
Is “coal” a common word?
“Coal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “coal” have?
“Coal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a black or dark brown rock, formed from ancient plant matter, burned as fuel.
What is the difference between coal and charcoal?
Coal is a natural rock, a fossil fuel dug from the ground and formed from plants buried for millions of years. Charcoal is man-made, produced by heating wood with little air until only carbon remains. Coal is mined; charcoal is manufactured, and it is the lighter fuel used on barbecues.
How is coal formed?
Coal forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants. When swampy forests died, the plant matter was buried under layers of sediment. Heat and pressure gradually drove out water and gases, concentrating the carbon and hardening it into the black rock we mine and burn today.
What are the main types of coal?
Coal is graded by how much carbon it holds and how long it has formed. The main ranks are lignite (soft and brown), sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite (hard, shiny, and highest in carbon). Higher-rank coals are older, denser, and release more energy when burned.
Is coal a renewable resource?
No. Coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel. It took many millions of years to form, so the supply we burn cannot be replaced within any human timescale. Because burning it also releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants, many countries are moving toward renewable energy sources instead.
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