Pronunciation: [kˈə͡ʊl] (IPA) 
The word "coal" (/koʊl/) is spelled with four letters, starting with the letter "c" followed by "o", "a", and "l". The phonetic transcription of "coal" is characterized by the vowel sound /oʊ/, which is a diphthong that starts with the low back rounded vowel sound /o/ and glides up to the high front rounded vowel sound /u/. This sound is followed by the unrounded mid central vowel sound /ə/ that separates it from the final consonant /l/.
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that is primarily composed of carbon, along with various other elements such as hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. It is one of the world's most abundant fossil fuels, formed from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago in swampy conditions.
Coal is usually classified into four main types based on its carbon content: anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite. Anthracite coal has the highest carbon content and is the most efficient and valuable type, while lignite coal has the lowest carbon content and is less energy-dense.
Coal is primarily used for its energy content, as it is burned to produce heat and electricity. It has been widely used as a fuel source for centuries, playing a significant role in industrialization and the development of civilizations. Additionally, coal is a key ingredient in the production of coke, which is used in the manufacturing of iron and steel.
The extraction of coal involves mining, where underground or surface methods are employed to remove the rock from the ground. Environmental concerns are associated with coal mining due to its contribution to air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
However, coal also has various non-energy uses, such as in the production of activated carbon used in filters, carbon black used in tires, and as a source of carbon in the chemical industry.
Overall, coal remains an important global energy source despite growing efforts to transition to cleaner and more sustainable alternatives due to its abundance, energy density, and economic significance.
• Mineralised vegetable matter; a hard black mineral used as fuel.
• To take in coal for the supply of a steam or sailing vessel.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "coal" has its roots in the Middle English term "cole", which originated from the Old English word "col". Ultimately, this Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "kula" or "kulǭ". In turn, "kula" can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root "gel" or "gol", meaning "hot" or "burn".
Interestingly, the resemblance between the word "coal" and the Latin term "carbo" has led some to believe a connection exists. "Carbo" also means "coal" in Latin, but no direct etymological relationship has been established between the two words. It is likely that "carbo" and "coal" are coincidentally similar in sound and meaning rather than sharing a common origin.
