coil Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
volute; spiral; helix; whorl.
- a coil of rope
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.
noun a transformer that supplies high voltage to spark plugs in a gasoline engine
noun a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
noun tubing that is wound in a spiral
noun reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit
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
verb make without a potter's wheel
handbuild; hand-build.
- This famous potter hand-builds all of her vessels
verb wind around something in coils or loops
curl; loop.

OF. coillir, F. cueillir, to collect, gather together, L. coligere; col- + legere to gather. See Legend, and cf. Cull, v. t., Collect.

imperfect & past participle Coiled (koild); present participle & verbal noun Coiling

To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.
To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils. Obs. or R. T. Edwards.

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.

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.
Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.
A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a steam heating apparatus.