coralline

1 of 2

noun

cor·​al·​line ˈkȯr-ə-ˌlīn How to pronounce coralline (audio)
ˈkär-
1
: a coralline red alga
2
: a bryozoan or hydroid that resembles a coral

coralline

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or resembling coral
2
: of, relating to, or being any of a family (Corallinaceae) of calcareous red algae

Examples of coralline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The Maldives Best for: Romance, castaway vibes, and overwater excess Dotted across an astoundingly blue Indian Ocean is Asia’s smallest country, an archipelago of 1,192 coralline islets, only 200 of which are inhabited. Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024 The outside is made from coralline limestone, and the internal walls are globigerina limestone. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024 This small island in the southern Philippines is known for its unique pink coralline sand. Steven Casale, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2023 As a part of its project in Mexico, Reefy is testing a similar paint, this one aimed at coralline algae. WIRED, 28 Mar. 2023 There are other species which act as calcifiers, adding to the carbonate foundation (such as crustose coralline algae). Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2016 Underwater, a calcified algae called crustose coralline algae in a lighter shade of red helps promote coral reef formation. Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2022 Ritson-Williams has found that while larvae like to settle near some species of coralline algae, other species inhibit larval growth. Michelle Nijhuis, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2018 Weightless amidst the invisible push and pull of the current, pink coralline algae hung closely to rock surfaces or branched skyward against sporadic patches of neon green and glimmering iridescence. Andria Greene, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, from feminine of corallin coral-like, from Middle French, from Late Latin corallinus, from Latin corallium

First Known Use

Noun

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coralline was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near coralline

Cite this Entry

“Coralline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coralline. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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