Webster's English Dictionary

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coal

1. coal \'ko-l\ n [ME col, fr. OE; akin to OHG & ON kol burning ember, 
   IrGael gual] often attrib  coal 1: a piece of glowing carbon or charred 
   wood : EMBER  2: CHARCOAL  3a: a black or brownish black solid combustible 
   substance formed by the par tial decomposition of vegetable matter without 
   free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased 
   pressure and temperature that is widely used as a natural fuel pl, Brit  
   3b: pieces or a quantity of the fuel broken up for burning 
2. coal vt 1: to burn to charcoal : CHAR  2: to supply with coal  : to take 
   in coal