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Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements; chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Coal is formed if dead plant matter decays into peat and over millions of years the heat and pressure of deep burial converts the peat into coal.As a fossil fuel burned for heat, coal supplies about a quarter of the world’s primary energy and two-fifths of its electricity. Some iron and steel making and other industrial processes burn coal.
The extraction and use of coal causes many premature deaths and much illness. Coal damages the environment; including by climate change as it is the largest anthropogenic source of carbon dioxide, 14 Gt in 2016 which is 40% of the total fossil fuel emissions. As part of the worldwide energy transition many countries have stopped using or use less coal.
The largest consumer and importer of coal is China. China mines account for almost half the world’s coal, followed by India with about a tenth. Australia accounts for about a third of world coal exports followed by Indonesia and Russia.
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Coal (noun)
A black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
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Coal (noun)
A piece of coal used for burning. Note that in British English either of the following examples could be used, whereas the latter would be more common in American English.
“Put some coals on the fire.”
“Put some coal on the fire.”
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Coal (noun)
A type of coal, such as bituminous, anthracite, or lignite, and grades and varieties thereof.
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Coal (noun)
A glowing or charred piece of coal, wood, or other solid fuel.
“Just as the camp-fire died down to just coals, with no flames to burn the marshmallows, someone dumped a whole load of wood on, so I gave up and went to bed.”
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Coal (noun)
Charcoal.
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Coal (verb)
To take on a supply of coal (usually of steam ships).
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Coal (verb)
To supply with coal.
“to coal a steamer”
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Coal (verb)
To be converted to charcoal.
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Coal (verb)
To burn to charcoal; to char.
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Coal (verb)
To mark or delineate with charcoal.
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Coaly (adjective)
Resembling coal.
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Coaly (adjective)
Covered in, or containing, coal.
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Coal (noun)
a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting chiefly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground seams and used as fuel
“a coal fire”
“two bags of coal”
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Coal (noun)
a piece of coal
“men were loading coals into a wagon”
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Coal (noun)
a red-hot piece of coal or other material in a fire
“the glowing coals”
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Coal (verb)
provide with a supply of coal
“ships had to be coaled and supplied”
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Coal (verb)
mine or extract coal
“we have now finished coaling at the site”
