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to coal

to coal

1 8.1
To put black rock that burns into a ship or engine for fuel
  • verb
  • /koʊl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : abastecer de carbón
  • 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 fuel
vsto coal
88 2.0

To put a substance that makes energy into a vehicle or machine so it runs

is limited to using a solid mineral energy source for engines and vessels

Idioms

In a job or place where the real work is done

Phrasal Verbs

5 3.0

Use coal as fuel to make heat or electricity

Compounds

26 2.5

A person who works underground to dig out coal

26 2.8

A place underground where people dig coal

11 3.4

A business sector that digs and sells coal for fuel and electricity

coal seam
  • Specialized
7 4.9

A layer of coal under the ground between rock layers

1 3.9

Using coal for heat or electricity

1 4.1

A very deep black color like coal

1 3.2

Making electricity or heat by using coal as fuel

bituminous coal
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A soft black coal that burns easily and makes a smoky yellow flame

1 5.8

A soft brown material people burn to make heat or electricity

1 2.8

Very dark like the color of coal

1 3.5

A train car without a roof that carries coal

1 7.0

A sloping passage that lets coal fall into a building or basement

coal gas
  • Archaic
1 6.5

A gas made from coal and used in the past for lighting and heating

coal miner's lung
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A lung disease that comes from breathing coal dust for a long time

coal oil
  • Archaic
1 7.6

An oil made from coal that burns easily in lamps and heaters

1 2.4

A hand-held metal tool that you use to move coal into or out of a fire

coal tar
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A thick dark sticky liquid made by heating coal and used in medicines and dyes

cannel coal
  • Archaic
9.9

A soft black fuel that burns with a bright flame used to make gas for light

coal cutter
  • Specialized
7.0

A machine that cuts coal from a layer in a mine

7.1

The place where work is done and real problems happen

coal house
  • Archaic
6.0

A small shed near a house where people keep coal for heating

coal scuttle
  • Archaic
9.1

A metal container with a sloping front for holding and pouring coal into a fire

coal-tar creosote
  • Specialized
9.1

A dark oily liquid made from coal tar that protects wood from rot and insects

coal seller
  • Archaic
4.2

A person who delivers coal to homes or factories for money

coal size
  • Specialized
6.1

A grade of coal that depends on how big its pieces are

A tool with two long arms for picking up hot coals in a fireplace

A hard, shiny coal that burns slowly and makes a lot of heat with little smoke

kindle-coal
  • Archaic
9.9

A type of coal used to start a fire

hard coal
  • Specialized
4.0

A hard natural fuel that burns slowly and gives very strong heat

sea coal
  • Archaic
9.9

A fine dark powder from coal that workers put on molds when they pour hot metal

soft coal
  • Specialized
6.1

A dark fuel that burns easily and makes a lot of smoke

steam coal
  • Archaic
4.4

A solid fuel burned in steam boilers to make steam for engines or power plants

6.0

A black material made by heating wood without air, used for drawing and fuel

wood coal
  • Specialized
8.2

A soft brown coal that gives less energy when burned

How Energy-Dense

hydrogen
  • Specialized
227 3.1
gasoline
  • US
318 1.6
fuel
1.0
to coal
  • Archaic
1 8.1
wood
613 1.0

Surface Forms

coal infinitive
coaled past
coaled past participle
coaling present participle
coals third person singular

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.