coil Hear it!

coil1 definition

coil (ko̵il)

transitive verb

to wind or gather (rope, a hose, etc.) into a circular or spiral form

Etymology: ME coilen, to select, cull < OFr coillir, to gather, pick < L colligere, to gather together: see collect

intransitive verb

  1. to wind around and around
  2. to move in a winding course

noun

  1. anything wound or gathered into a series of rings or a spiral
  2. such a series of rings or a spiral
  3. a single turn of a coiled figure
  4. a series of connected pipes in rows or coils
  5. a roll of postage stamps for use in a dispenser or vending machine; also, a stamp from such a roll
  6. Elec. a spiral or loop of wire or other conducting element used as an inductor, heating element, etc.
coil2 definition

coil (ko̵il)

noun

Archaic commotion; turmoil

Etymology: Early ModE < ?

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.