coil1
/kɔɪl
/noun
1A length of something wound in a joined sequence of concentric rings: a coil of rope...
- ‘We're following the ancient Cinnamon Route,’ he says proudly, seated atop a coil of rope in the ship's bow as it skims across the Java Sea.
- Levitan had a heavy coil of climbing rope strapped to his green pack.
- Scientists this week finished removing sediment from the ballast tanks of the sub after recovering a coil of waterlogged rope.
1.1A single ring in a coil: the snake wrapped its coils around her...
- Wolfus struggled to reach for his sword, and slashed off the coils with a single swipe.
- Seti's black eyes lit up, and several tentacles were instantly flung around Indigo's torso and chest, constricting like snake coils.
- The two sisters both rested their hands on the coils of the great snake and stroked it gently as others would stroke a sleeping cat.
Synonyms
loop, twist, turn, curl, hoop, roll, ring, twirl, gyre, whorl, scroll, curlicue, convolution;
spiral, helix, corkscrew
technical volute, volution
1.2An intrauterine contraceptive device in the form of a coil: many women don’t like the idea of having a coil fitted...
- Intrauterine devices, also known as coils, are rigid contraceptive devices that are inserted into the uterus by a doctor.
- If you have a contraceptive coil fitted, you must tell the radiographer as some have copper wire in them.
- The contraceptive coil seems to increase the risk of BV.
1.3An electrical device consisting of a coiled wire, for converting the level of a voltage, producing a magnetic field, or adding inductance to a circuit: a relay coil...
- Changing levels of current in the wires of an electric coil wrapped around a magnetic generate fluctuations in the magnetic field.
- This voltage in the feedback coil conducts current to the transistor base, making the transistor conductive again, and the process repeats.
- Electricity is produced when coils of wire inside the generator create a pulse as they move through a magnetic field, Sagrillo said.
1.4Such a device used for transmitting high voltage to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine.After a quick and jovial discussion about the problem he checked the spark plugs and coil....
- When Tri-Tech won a contract to manufacture encapsulated coils for valves on buses powered by natural gas, it knew the components would require superior protection against the elements.
- Motor control of a variable reluctance motor is obtained by providing a periodic voltage waveform to a coil of a motor.
1.5A slow-burning spiral made from the dried paste of pyrethrum powder, which produces a smoke that deters mosquitoes.The cup-shaped vessel specially made to keep the lighted mosquito repellent coil, candle stand and small teacups are among the attractions....
- ‘For villagers who can not afford to purchase a mosquito net or coils, Jatrohpa is the answer to their cry,’ said Munengu.
- With a lit coil around, the mosquitoes begin coughing and either stay away or soon die.
1.6A roll of postage stamps, especially one for use in a vending machine.They were also issued with coils containing labels instead of the postage stamps.
verb [with object]
1Arrange (something long and flexible) in a coil: he began to coil up the heavy ropes he coiled a lock of her hair around his finger...
- Her curly blond hair was coiled at the back of her head, held by hot pink metal pins.
- Absently coiling a blonde curl around her fingers she re-examined the office she was gradually growing familiar with.
- As she coils her long, languid body around a chair, it's plain that the hype isn't misplaced - she has presence to spare.
Synonyms
wind, loop, twist, curl, curve, bend, twine, entwine, snake;
spiral, corkscrew, wreathe, meander
rare convolute
1.1 [no object, with adverbial] Move or twist into the shape of a coil: smoke coiled lazily towards the ceiling...
- With each passing second his insides twisted and coiled like a snake.
- I had never seen the rancher, who lived in the thrown-together compound of unmatched buildings down by the river, only a thin wraith of smoke coiling out of his chimney.
- Their sloping slate roofs peeked over Victorian chimneys almost smothered in the plumes of grey smoke which coiled ever upwards into the sky.
Origin
Early 16th century (as a verb): from Old French coillir, from Latin colligere 'gather together' (see collect1).
collect from Late Middle English:
This comes from the Latin verb colligere, from col- ‘together’ and legere ‘choose or collect’. The collect meaning ‘prayer’ (Middle English) is from Latin collecta ‘a gathering together’—an obsolete use of collect was as a term for ‘a gathering’ for an act of worship. Recollect (early 16th century) is literally ‘to collect again’. Coil (early 16th century) is less obviously from the Latin. Something coiled up is gathered in a specific way.
Rhymes
coil2
/kɔɪl/noun archaic or dialect
A confusion or turmoil.But the biggest loser from our decision to cling gamely to the mortal coil is the National Health Service....
- And secondly, because your mortal coil is so much more fragile at that age, if your chances of dying in the next five years are halved at aged 80, then it really means something.
- All of us who shuffled off the coil of tertiary study and into the colder harder reality of working for the system that educated us know the feeling.
Phrases
shuffle off this mortal coil
Origin
Mid 16th century: of unknown origin.