Definition of "reef-building" [reef-building]

• Constructing or building up a coral reef, as a reef-builder.

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Invertebrates face similar trends, with 33% of reef-building corals, 32% of freshwater crayfish and 13% of dragonflies threatened, the report says."
• "Mr. Cameron says he's not in the reef-building business, but his tax hik es and his proposals for the political allocation of capital show that he's building a greater barrier to durable economic growth."
• "One third of reef-building corals face extinction, study shows"