coil Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
    volute; spiral; helix; whorl.
    • a coil of rope
  2. noun a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
    gyre; ringlet; scroll; whorl; curl; curlicue; roll.
  3. noun a transformer that supplies high voltage to spark plugs in a gasoline engine
  4. noun a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
  5. noun tubing that is wound in a spiral
  6. noun reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit
  7. verb to wind or move in a spiral course
    gyrate; spiral.
    • the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action
    • black smoke coiling up into the sky
    • the young people gyrated on the dance floor
  8. verb make without a potter's wheel
    handbuild; hand-build.
    • This famous potter hand-builds all of her vessels
  9. verb wind around something in coils or loops
    curl; loop.

WordNet


Coil transitive verb
Etymology
OF. coillir, F. cueillir, to collect, gather together, L. coligere; col- + legere to gather. See Legend, and cf. Cull, v. t., Collect.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Coiled (koild); present participle & verbal noun Coiling
Definitions
  1. To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.
  2. To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils. Obs. or R. T. Edwards.
Coil intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To wind itself cylindrically or spirally; to form a coil; to wind; -- often with about or around.
    You can see his flery serpents . . . Coiting, playing in the water. Longfellow.
Coil noun
Definitions
  1. A ring, series of rings, or spiral, into which a rope, or other like thing, is wound.
    The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from trec to tree. W. Irving.
  2. Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.
  3. A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a steam heating apparatus.
Coil noun
Etymology
Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. goil fume, rage.
Definitions
  1. A noise, tumult, bustle, or confusion. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913