Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense coils, present participle coiling, past tense, past participle coiled
1. countable noun
A coilof rope or wire is a length of it that has been wound into a series of loops.
Tod shook his head angrily and slung the coil of rope over his shoulder. [+ of]
The steel arrives at the factory in coils.
Synonyms: loop, twist, curl, spiral More Synonyms of coil
2. countable noun
A coil is one loop in a series of loops.
Pythons kill by tightening their coils so that their victim cannot breathe.
3. countable noun
A coil is a thick spiral of wire through which an electrical current passes.
4. countable noun
In a vehicle, the coil is the part on a petrol engine that sends electricity to the spark plugs.
5. countable noun
The coil is a contraceptive device used by women. It is fitted inside a woman's womb, usually for several months or years.
6. verb
If you coil something, you wind it into a series of loops or into the shape of a ring. If it coilsaround something, it forms loops or a ring.
He turned off the water and began to coil the hose. [VERB noun]
Louisa was dancing, spinning by herself, her skirt flying out and coiling aroundher feet. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A huge rattlesnake lay coiled on the blanket. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: wind, twist, curl, loop More Synonyms of coil
Coil up means the same as coil.
Once we have the wire, we can coil it up into the shape of a spring. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Her hair was coiled up on top of her head. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun]
More Synonyms of coil
coil in British English1
(kɔɪl)
verb
1.
to wind or gather (ropes, hair, etc) into loops or (of rope, hair, etc) to be formed in such loops
2. (intransitive)
to move in a winding course
noun
3.
something wound in a connected series of loops
4.
a single loop of such a series
5.
an arrangement of pipes in a spiral or loop, as in a condenser
6.
an electrical conductor wound into the form of a spiral, sometimes with a soft iron core, to provide inductance or a magnetic field
See also induction coil
7.
an intrauterine contraceptive device in the shape of a coil
8.
the transformer in a petrol engine that supplies the high voltage to the sparking plugs
Derived forms
coiler (ˈcoiler)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French coillir to collect together; see cull
coil in British English2
(kɔɪl)
noun
the troubles and activities of the world (in the Shakespearean phrase this mortal coil)
Word origin
C16: of unknown origin
coil in American English1
(kɔɪl)
verb transitive
1.
to wind or gather (rope, a hose, etc.) into a circular or spiral form
verb intransitive
2.
to wind around and around
3.
to move in a winding course
noun
4.
anything wound or gathered into a series of rings or a spiral
5.
such a series of rings or a spiral
6.
a single turn of a coiled figure
7.
a series of connected pipes in rows or coils
8.
a roll of postage stamps for use in a dispenser or vending machine; also, a stamp from such a roll
9. Electricity
a spiral or loop of wire or other conducting element used as an inductor, heating element, etc.
Word origin
ME coilen, to select, cull < OFr coillir, to gather, pick < L colligere, to gather together: see collect2
coil in American English2
(kɔɪl)
noun
Archaic
commotion; turmoil
Word origin
Early ModE < ?
coil in Chemical Engineering
(kɔɪl)
Word forms: (regular plural) coils
noun
(Chemical Engineering: General)
A coil is a twisted tube for carrying a fluid, which is used inside a vessel but has entry and exit points outside the vessel.
The refrigerant is circulated through the coil of the evaporative condenser.
The high velocity of the coolant through the coil ensures usefully high heat transfer rates.
A coil is a twisted tube for carrying a fluid, which is used inside a vessel but has entryand exit points outside the vessel.
coil in Electrical Engineering
(kɔɪl)
Word forms: (regular plural) coils
noun
(Electrical engineering: Electrical power)
A coil consists of several loops of conductor that may be round a central ferrous core.
The coil used to be central to supplying high voltage to a car's sparking plugs.
An inductor is a circuit element consisting of a coil of wire wound on a core material made of ferrous or non-ferrous material.
A coil consists of several loops of conductor that may be round a central ferrous core.
induction coil, loading coil
Examples of 'coil' in a sentence
coil
Your online posts can continue after you have logged off this mortal coil.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
With one legendary rock star after another shuffling off this mortal coil, it has been a terrible year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The more important buildings are protected by concrete blast barriers and coiled razor wire.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet stories can coil around our snake sightings.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
When forced to sit still he was like a coiled spring.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
He feasted his eyes upon the brilliant hair coiled in a glorious mass upon her head.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
The thick smell of magic coiled around the meadow.
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
We keep them like coiled springs and only let them loose at the races.
The Sun (2014)
How many other things must be crammed in before this mortal coil is shuffled off?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The snake then begins to coil itself slowly around the goat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Our creative sector is like a coiled spring just waiting to be set free.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If an iron bar is placed within the coil core then it is moved by the magnetic field.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
At times it feels as though she is tripping over herself to release all the pacy phrases coiled in her mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was my coil of hair.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
The support should be good, with proper springs and not cheap wire coils.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The squat 1930s building is almost entirely obscured by huge blast walls and coiled razor wire.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Release after five seconds and coil the hair against your head, securing with a clip.
The Sun (2016)
It's as if she keeps that emotional core coiled up inside, ready to be unleashed only in a fabulous operatic performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Each morning, under strict direction, my mother would comb out my hair and wind it into coils on either side of my head.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
coil
British English: coil NOUN
A coil of rope or wire is a length of it that has been wound into a series of loops.
He shook his head angrily and slung the coil of rope over his shoulder.
American English: coil
Brazilian Portuguese: rolo
Chinese: 一圈
European Spanish: rollo
French: rouleau
German: Rolle
Italian: rotolo
Japanese: 輪
Korean: 둥글게 감아 놓은 것
European Portuguese: bobina
Latin American Spanish: rollo
All related terms of 'coil'
re-coil
to coil anew or again
choke coil
an inductor used to limit or suppress alternating current without stopping direct current
coil spring
a helical spring formed from wire
moving coil
denoting an electromechanical device in which a suspended coil is free to move in a magnetic field . A current passing through the coil causes it to move, as in loudspeakers and electrical measuring instruments, or movement of the coil gives rise to induced currents, as in microphones and some record-player pick-ups
spark coil
an induction coil used to produce spark discharges
tesla coil
a step-up transformer with an air core , used for producing high voltages at high frequencies . The secondary circuit is tuned to resonate with the primary winding
ignition coil
an induction coil that supplies the high voltage to the sparking plugs of an internal-combustion engine
loading coil
an inductance coil inserted at regular intervals and in series with the conductors of a transmission line in order to improve its characteristics
mosquito coil
a spiral coil which burns slowly and releases a smoke that prevents mosquitoes from biting
pancake coil
a coil (of wire , etc) wound in a flat circular shape
tickler coil
a small inductance coil connected in series in the anode circuit of a valve and magnetically coupled to a coil in the grid circuit to provide feedback
induction coil
a transformer for producing a high voltage from a low voltage. It consists of a cylindrical primary winding of few turns, a concentric secondary winding of many turns, and often a common soft-iron core
choke
When you choke or when something chokes you, you cannot breathe properly or get enough air into your lungs .