coil
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈkȯi(-ə)l 
1
: turmoil
2
: trouble
also : everyday cares and worries
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil 
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare coil
2 of 3verb
coiled; coiling; coils
transitive verb
1
: to wind into rings or spirals
coil a rope
2
: to roll or twist into a shape resembling a coil
coiled herself up on the couch
intransitive verb
1
: to move in a circular or spiral course
2
: to form or lie in a coil
coilability
ˌkȯi-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun coil
3 of 3noun (2)
plural coils
1
a(1)
: a series of loops
(2)
: spiral
b
: a single loop of such a coil
2
a
: a number of turns of wire wound around a core (as of iron) to create a magnetic field for an electromagnet or an induction coil
b
: induction coil
3
: a series of connected pipes in rows, layers, or windings
4
: a roll of postage stamps
also : a stamp from such a roll
5
medical : intrauterine device
That means no condoms, no pills, no coils or sterilization … Christine M. Flowers
Christine M. FlowersThe IUD or 'coil' is a small plastic (or plastic and copper) device, not much longer than a match, which is placed inside your womb, where it prevents you from getting pregnant. It's often called a 'coil' because most of the original IUDs were coil-shaped. David Delvin
David Delvin
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Verb
- corkscrew
- curl
- entwine
- spiral
- twine
- twist
- wind
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She coiled the loose thread around her finger. A long scarf was coiled around her neck. The cat coiled up into a ball. The snake coiled around its prey.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
origin unknown
Verb
French coillir, cuillir to gather — more at cull
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Phrases Containing coil
Kids Definition
coil 1 of 2
noun
ˈkȯil
1
: a circle, a series of circles, or a spiral made by coiling
2
: a long thin piece of material that is wound into circles
coil
2 of 2verb
coiled; coiling
1
: to wind into rings or a spiral
coil a rope
2
: to form or lie in a coil
The cat coiled up before the fireplace.
Medical Definition
coil
noun
ˈkȯi(ə)l
: intrauterine device
coiling 1 of 2
adjective
as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw the coiling strands of rope Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- spiral
- winding
- curving
- helical
- twisting
- corkscrew
- circular
- curling
- screwlike
- involute
- swirly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- linear
- straight
- right
- lineal
coiling
2 of 2verb
as in winding
to follow a circular or spiral course a vine coiling around a pillar Synonyms & Similar Words
- winding
- curling
- curving
- twining
- twisting
- swirling
- spiraling
- circling
- entwining
- weaving
- corkscrewing
- spiralling
- looping
- arching
- turning
- arcing
- sweeping
- bending
- whirling
- encircling
- hooking
- wheeling
- crooking
- intertwining
- bowing
- veering
- bulging
- zigzagging
- interlacing
- swerving
- meandering
- lacing
- enlacing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightening