to coal
- verb
- /koʊl/
- Archaic
- If it's going to coal miners whose health costs must be insanely high, or ditch diggers with major back problems, or nuclear power,
Examples
-
Now, if you coal-heavers don't lay off while we investigate... ...you gonna have some explaining to do.
-
I'm trying to get more coal to burn in order that we can get the relevant changes in the colours of our liquids, and I hope you can already.
-
Lainey and Myra hadn't had to coal.
Fiction book (1990) -
All the political parties of Sindh and nationalist leaders coal the bodies of the martyrs buried with tears and sobs.
Blog text (28) -
on the radio issue here will be that of the distinguished correspondent mr. Quentin Reynolds who has flown here to coal town to report on the amazing happening in the Church of st. Michael
-
As in the annexation of Hawai'i, Great Britain clearly favored the United States, allowing the U.S. fleet to coal at British stations before successfully taking control of the Philippines.
Academic text (2008) -
Meanwhile, the economy and versatility of natural gas trigger more investment in natural gas pipelines, while nobody's building more freight rails, at least not to coal fields.
Blog text (19) -
The crew needs to coal the engine before the ship sets sail.
-
To ensure optimal performance, you must coal the furnace with high-quality fuel.
-
Before the journey, they always coal the boiler to maintain the heat.
Synonyms
To put a substance that makes energy into a vehicle or machine so it runs
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A soft black coal that burns easily and makes a smoky yellow flame
- Specialized
A lung disease that comes from breathing coal dust for a long time
- Specialized
A thick dark sticky liquid made by heating coal and used in medicines and dyes
- Archaic
A metal container with a sloping front for holding and pouring coal into a fire
- Specialized
A dark oily liquid made from coal tar that protects wood from rot and insects
- Archaic
A fine dark powder from coal that workers put on molds when they pour hot metal
- Archaic
A solid fuel burned in steam boilers to make steam for engines or power plants
How Energy-Dense
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb coal comes from the noun coal, the black fuel, and it originally meant 'to put coal into' a ship or engine. So to coal a vessel is to supply it with fuel for its journey.