pit-coal

A miner digs pit-coal from a deep seam underground.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Bituminous coal: "pit-coal" refers to a type of coal that is mined from a pit or underground mine, specifically bituminous coal, which is a soft, black, and relatively high-energy coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen.

Usage Examples

• (Bituminous coal obtained from a pit mine.)
• (Bituminous coal was a common energy source.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pit-coal" vs. "Anthracite": Pit-coal is softer and burns with more smoke and soot compared to hard, clean-burning anthracite coal.
  • The factory preferred pit-coal for its higher volatile content, which made it easier to ignite. (Bituminous coal was chosen for its combustion properties.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pit (n): a hole or excavation in the ground, especially for mining.
  • The pit was over 300 feet deep. (The mine shaft.)
• Coal (n): a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter.
  • Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years. (The general substance.)

Synonyms

• Bituminous coal: the technical term for pit-coal.
• Soft coal: a common name for bituminous coal, contrasting with hard anthracite.

Related Idioms