coil

[[t]kɔ͟ɪl[/t]]

coils, coiling, coiled

1) N-COUNT: oft N of n A coil of rope or wire is a length of it that has been wound into a series of loops.

Tod shook his head angrily and slung the coil of rope over his shoulder...

The steel arrives at the factory in coils.

2) N-COUNT A coil is one loop in a series of loops.

Pythons kill by tightening their coils so that their victim cannot breathe.

3) N-COUNT A coil is a thick spiral of wire through which an electrical current passes.

4) N-COUNT In a vehicle, the coil is the part on a petrol engine that sends electricity to the spark plugs.

5) N-COUNT: usu the N in sing The coil is a contraceptive device used by women. It is fitted inside a woman's womb, usually for several months or years.

Syn:

IUD

6) V-ERG If you coil something, you wind it into a series of loops or into the shape of a ring. If it coils around something, it forms loops or a ring.

[V n] He turned off the water and began to coil the hose...

[V prep/adv] Louisa was dancing, spinning by herself, her skirt flying out and coiling around her feet...

[V-ed] A huge rattlesnake lay coiled on the blanket.

PHRASAL VERB

Coil up means the same as coil.

V n P Once we have the wire, we can coil it up into the shape of a spring... Also V P n (not pron) V-ed P Her hair was coiled up on top of her head.