coil1 /kɔɪl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[koil] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
verb (used with object) 1.to wind into continuous, regularly spaced rings one above the other:
to coil a wire around a pencil. 2.to wind on a flat surface into rings one around the other:
He coiled the rope on the deck. 3.to gather (rope, wire, etc.) into loops:
She coiled the garden hose and hung it on the hook. verb (used without object) 4.to form rings, spirals, etc.; gather or retract in a circular way:
The snake coiled, ready to strike. 5.to move in or follow a winding course:
The river coiled through the valley. noun 6.a connected series of spirals or rings into which a rope or the like is wound. 7.a single such ring. 8.an arrangement of pipes, coiled or in a series, as in a radiator. 9.a continuous pipe having inlet and outlet, or flow and return ends. 10.
Medicine/Medical. an intrauterine device. 11.
Electricity. a.a conductor, as a copper wire, wound up in a spiral or other form. b.a device composed essentially of such a conductor. c.
ignition coil. 12.
Philately. a.a stamp issued in a roll, usually of 500 stamps, and usually perforated vertically or horizontally only. b.a roll of such stamps.
[Origin: 160515; perh. var. of
cull]
Related forms coil·a·ble, adjective
coil·a·bil·i·ty, noun