Definition

Noun 1. A hard, stony material: This refers to the hard, calcareous skeleton produced by certain marine coral polyps, specifically of the species Corallium rubrum and related species. 2. A material for adornment: It is characterized by its delicate red or pink color and is highly valued for carving and polishing to create jewelry and ornamental objects.

Usage

• As a material noun: "Precious coral" is typically used as a non-count noun to describe the substance itself.
  • The artisan carved the intricate cameo from a single piece of precious coral.
  • Precious coral has been traded in the Mediterranean for millennia.
• Referring to an object: It can be used to refer to an item made from this material.
  • Her necklace was made of precious coral and gold.

Advanced Usage

• In gemology and jewelry contexts: The term is used to distinguish this organic gemstone from other types of coral (like reef-building coral) and from imitation materials.
  • The appraisal confirmed that the beads were genuine precious coral, not dyed howlite.

Variants and Related Words

• Red coral: A common synonym.
• Corallium rubrum: The scientific name for the primary species yielding precious coral.
• Coral (noun): A broader term that can refer to many types of coral organisms or their skeletons. "Precious coral" is a specific, valuable subset.
• Organic gem: A category that includes precious coral, along with pearls, amber, and jet.

Synonyms

• Red coral
• Noble coral (less common)

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically denotes the skeletal material, not the living animal. It is the harvested and polished form used in art and jewelry.
• Its primary distinguishing features from common coral are its solid, non-porous structure and its naturally occurring red-to-pink hues.

Noun

1. the hard stony skeleton of a Mediterranean coral that has a delicate red or pink color and is used for jewelry