coal

coal
[[t]ko͟ʊl[/t]]
♦♦♦
coals
1) N-UNCOUNT Coal is a hard black substance that is extracted from the ground and burned as fuel.

Gas-fired electricity is cheaper than coal...

Today, oil and natural gas have replaced coal and wood in most areas.

2) N-PLURAL Coals are burning pieces of coal.

The iron teakettle was hissing splendidly over live coals...

When grilling on charcoal, it is important to get the coals white-hot before you start.

3) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n/-ing If a person in authority hauls or drags someone over the coals, they speak to them severely about something foolish or wrong that they have done.

I heard later that Uncle Jim had been hauled over the coals for not letting anyone know where we were...

The museum's P.R. man was going to be dragged over the coals for sure.

Syn:
4) PHRASE: usu v PHR If someone is taking coals to Newcastle, they are trying to give or sell someone something that they already have a lot of.

Taking a gun to the United States would be like taking coals to Newcastle.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Coal — Sedimentary Rock Anthracite coal Composition Primary carbon Secondary hydrogen, sulfur …   Wikipedia

  • Coal — (k[=o]l), n. [AS. col; akin to D. kool, OHG. chol, cholo, G. kohle, Icel. kol, pl., Sw. kol, Dan. kul; cf. Skr. jval to burn. Cf. {Kiln}, {Collier}.] 1. A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from wood or other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coal — [ koul ] noun *** uncount a hard black substance that is dug from the ground and burned as fuel to provide heat: Put some more coal on the fire. coal dust a piece/lump of coal a. uncount used for talking about the industry of digging coal out of… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • coal — [kōl] n. [ME & OE col, charcoal, live coal, akin to Ger kohle, ON kol < IE base * g(e)u lo , live coal > Ir gual] 1. a kind of dark brown to black, combustible, sedimentary rock resulting from the partial decomposition of vegetable matter… …   English World dictionary

  • coal — W2S3 [kəul US koul] n [: Old English; Origin: col] 1.) [U] a hard black mineral which is dug out of the ground and burnt to produce heat ▪ Put some coal on the fire. ▪ the coal mining industry ▪ a lump of coal 2.) [C usually plural] a piece of… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • coal — O.E. col charcoal, live coal, from P.Gmc. *kula(n) (Cf. O.Fris. kole, M.Du. cole, Du. kool, O.H.G. chol, Ger. Kohle, O.N. kol), from PIE root *g(e)u lo live coal (Cf. Ir. gual coal ). Meaning mineral consisting of fo …   Etymology dictionary

  • Coal — Coal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coaled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Coaling}.] 1. To burn to charcoal; to char. [R.] [1913 Webster] Charcoal of roots, coaled into great pieces. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. To mark or delineate with charcoal. Camden. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coal — Coal, v. i. To take in coal; as, the steamer coaled at Southampton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coal|er — «KOH luhr», noun. 1. a ship, freight car, or railroad, used for carrying or supplying coal. 2. a worker or merchant who supplies coal …   Useful english dictionary

  • coal|y — «KOH lee», adjective. 1. of or like coal. 2. containing coal …   Useful english dictionary

  • Coal — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Véase también: Carbón Es un fósil compuesto de combustibles y de otras substancias, por lo general se encuentran en ecosistemas pantanosos, donde los restos de las plantas son cubiertos por agua y lodo, y así, se… …   Wikipedia Español

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