coal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in technical, industrial, environmental, and historical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “coal” mean?
A hard, black or dark brown sedimentary rock, primarily composed of carbon, formed from plant matter over millions of years and used as a fuel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hard, black or dark brown sedimentary rock, primarily composed of carbon, formed from plant matter over millions of years and used as a fuel.
A piece of this material, especially when burning; also used metaphorically to refer to something that fuels a situation (e.g., adding fuel to the fire) or, in the idiom 'haul over the coals', to indicate a severe reprimand.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The UK has a deeper historical and cultural connection due to the Industrial Revolution.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with the Industrial Revolution, pollution, and climate change. In the UK, also evokes nostalgia and community identity in former mining regions.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to historical and cultural prominence, though declining in both varieties as usage decreases.
Grammar
How to Use “coal” in a Sentence
mine/extract/dig for coalburn/use coalimport/export coalbe powered by coala seam/bed of coalVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ship will coal at the next port.
- They used to coal the locomotives by hand.
American English
- The vessel will take on coal before the transatlantic crossing.
- The old furnace needed to be coaled twice a day.
adjective
British English
- The coal-black sky promised a storm.
- He worked in the coal-mining industry for decades.
American English
- The coal-dust covered everything in the yard.
- They debated the future of coal-burning power plants.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the commodity, industry, or energy source (e.g., 'Coal prices fell sharply this quarter.').
Academic
Discussed in geology, history, economics, and environmental science (e.g., 'The Carboniferous period saw the formation of major coal deposits.').
Everyday
Associated with heating, barbecues, or historical references (e.g., 'We used to have a coal shed at the back of the house.').
Technical
Specified by type (anthracite, lignite), mining method, or combustion properties in engineering contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coal”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coal”
- Using 'a coal' instead of 'a piece/lump of coal' (incorrect article use with mass noun).
- Confusing 'coal' with 'charcoal' (a processed fuel).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'some coal' or 'a lot of coal'. For individual pieces, use 'a lump/piece of coal'. The plural 'coals' is used for multiple pieces, especially burning ones.
Coal is a natural mineral formed over geological time. Charcoal is a man-made product created by slowly burning wood in a low-oxygen environment. Charcoal is often used for barbecuing, while coal is used for large-scale heating and electricity generation.
Newcastle upon Tyne in England was historically a major coal-exporting centre. Carrying coal there would be pointless, as they already have plenty. The idiom means to supply something to a place that already has an abundance of it.
Yes, but it is archaic and technical. It means to supply or take on a supply of coal, typically for a ship or steam engine (e.g., 'The steamer coaled at Gibraltar'). It is rarely used in modern everyday English.
A hard, black or dark brown sedimentary rock, primarily composed of carbon, formed from plant matter over millions of years and used as a fuel.
Coal is usually neutral to formal; common in technical, industrial, environmental, and historical contexts. in register.
Coal: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “haul/rake someone over the coals”
- “carry coals to Newcastle”
- “heap coals of fire on someone's head”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine Santa leaving a lump of COAL for a naughty child. COAL sounds like 'cold' – it's a black, cold-looking rock that makes things hot.
Conceptual Metaphor
COAL AS A SOURCE (of energy, conflict, or motivation): 'His comments added more coal to the fiery debate.'
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'haul someone over the coals' mean?