Corallic

/kɔˈrælɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characteristic of coral, especially in composition or structure.

Etymology

From Latin 'corallium' (coral) plus the suffix '-ic' meaning 'of or relating to.' The Latin word likely came from Greek 'korallion,' possibly from a Semitic source. The '-ic' suffix has been used in English since the Middle Ages to form adjectives from nouns.

Kelly Says

This adjective shows how scientists create precise terminology by adding common suffixes to root words. In marine biology, 'corallic' helps distinguish coral-related properties from the general term 'coral,' making it easier to describe specific features like corallic limestone or corallic structures in scientific papers.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.