coil

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkȯi(-ə)l 

1

: turmoil

2

: trouble

also : everyday cares and worries

when we have shuffled off this mortal coil

—William Shakespeare

coil

2 of 3

verb

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 3

noun (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

The 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

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

Examples of coil in a Sentence

Noun (1)

amidst the coil of the office renovations, we even managed to get some work done

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Our food and spirits are vibrant, along with our textured coils, infectious energy, and addiction to celebrating life in all ways, always. —Essence, 23 Sep. 2024

While ionic hair dryers utilize negative ions, regular hair dryers rely on heated coils, per Sullivan. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2024

Verb

Two species remained protectively coiled for longer periods; the third bravely fought back by trying to bite the electrodes. —Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2024

Early summer, my hair grown long, my blue sweatshirt coiled in a basket on the lawn. —Grady Chambers, The Atlantic, 21 July 2024

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

• choke coil
• induction coil
• Tesla coil

Kids Definition

coil

1 of 2 verb

ˈkȯil 

1

: to wind into or lie in loops, rings, or a spiral

2

: to move in a circular, spiral, or winding direction

coil

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a series of loops : spiral

b

: a single loop of 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 (as in water-heating apparatus) in rows, layers, or windings

Medical Definition

coil

noun

ˈkȯi(ə)l 

: intrauterine device