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coil - What does it mean?

Definition of 'coil'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ; compare legend.

Noun

(en-noun)
  • Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
    • the sinuous coils of a snake
  • * Washington Irving
    • The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from tree to tree.
  • Any intra-uterine contraceptive device (Abbreviation: IUD )—the first IUDs were coil-shaped.
  • (electrical) A coil of electrically conductive wire through which electricity can flow.
  • (figurative) Entanglement; perplexity.
    • Synonyms
    * (coil of conductive wire) inductor
    Derived terms
    (top3) * coil spring * impedance coil (mid3) * mosquito coil * Oudin coil (mid3) * Tesla coil (bottom)

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To wind or reel e.g. a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece.
    • A simple transformer can be made by coiling two pieces of insulated copper wire around an iron heart.
  • To wind into loops (roughly) around a common center.
    • The sailor coiled the free end of the hawser on the pier.
  • To wind cylindrically or spirally.
    • to coil a rope when not in use
    The snake coiled itself before springing.
  • (obsolete|rare) To encircle and hold with, or as if with, coils.

    • Etymology 2

    Origin unknown.

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil.
  • * 1594 , William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus , Act III:
    • If the windes rage, doth not the Sea wax mad, / Threatning the welkin with his big-swolne face? / And wilt thou haue a reason for this coile ?
  • * 1624 , John Smith, Generall Historie , in Kupperman 1988, p. 162:
    • this great Savage desired also to see him. A great coyle there was to set him forward.
  • * 1704 , Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub :
    • they continued so extremely fond of gold, that if Peter sent them abroad, though it were only upon a compliment, they would roar, and spit, and belch, and piss, and f—t, and snivel out fire, and keep a perpetual coil , till you flung them a bit of gold [...].
    Quotations
    * (seeCites)
    Derived terms
    * mortal coil

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    Similar to 'coil'

    cool, cell, coal, call, col, cull, ceil, cowl, caul, chill, coll, cal, cel, cill, choil, chiel, cawl