fire coral

noun

: a colonial coralline hydrozoan (genus Millepora) having nematocysts that inflict a painful and burning sting

Examples of fire coral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Living here are shoals of technicolor fish, some the size of a fingernail—like the baby clownfish hiding in gently swaying anemone—others larger than a human, like the giant moray eel coiled around net fire coral. —Jessica Vincent, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2023

Poppy, bright orange like blood orange (especially on olive or Asian skin tones), burnt clay, fire coral, yellow, and neons are exciting me, too. —Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 7 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

fire coral

noun

-ˈkȯr-əl, -ˈkär- 

: a colonial hydrozoan (genus Millepora) resembling coral and having nematocysts that inflict a painful and burning sting