coal: Meaning and Definition of

coal

Pronunciation: (kōl), [key]
— n.
  1. a black or dark-brown combustible mineral substance consisting of carbonized vegetable matter, used as a fuel. Cf. anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite.
  2. a piece of glowing, charred, or burned wood or other combustible substance.
  3. charcoal (def. 1).
  4. to repay evil with good in order to make one's enemy repent.
  5. to reprimand; scold: They were raked over the coals for turning out slipshod work.
—v.t.
  1. to burn to coal or charcoal.
  2. to provide with coal.
—v.i.
  1. to take in coal for fuel.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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