coiled; coiling; coils
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
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
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
Christine M. FlowersThe 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
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
Examples of coil in a Sentence
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 WebDanielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2023
This Week to hear more interesting facts about the evolution of curls and coils.
—Liz Clayton Fuller, Popular Science, 27 Sep. 2023
His tight coils covered our floor, and the next day all the kids on the school bus laughed at the nicks on his head.
—Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2023
Eddy currents occur in an item placed within the field, or coil, provided they are comprised of electrically conductive materials.
—Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
The higher the number, the curlier the hair and the tighter the coil.
—Sabina Wizemann, Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023
And because the magnetic field only feeds power to the resonating coil, the charger has no effect on humans or nearby objects.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
Some of the most common check-engine light repair issues include replacing catalytic converters, oxygen sensors and ignition coil and spark plugs, according to CarMD’s report.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 12 Aug. 2023
Brush hair back into a low bun, but leave out some hair around the perimeter of your hairline for a messy coil near your ears.
—Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 18 July 2023
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
The pitch comes: Ohtani taps his toes, coils his hips, readies his hands, and strokes a line drive into right field.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2023
While techniques differ from cook to cook, most hold that the dough is laminated by rolling it out into a flat round, sprinkling it with scallions and oil, then rolling it into a log; next, the log is coiled up like a snake before it is rolled out into a flat round.
—Cathy Erway, Bon Appétit, 5 Sep. 2023
The bunches of lavender stems can be moistened and coiled around, stitched into a bowl shape with a natural twine.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 23 Aug. 2023
Stored for a period, prior to shredding, having been twisted into ropes to make each individual strand coiled and springy, horsehair also affords those lying horizontal on top of it a feeling of floating whilst being completely, and evenly, supported.
—Nick Scott, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2023
Its signature coiled silhouette, inspired by the Icon collection, has a unique allure, whether worn individually or layered with other necklaces and bracelets.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Town & Country, 18 Aug. 2023
Robin’s animated self, clad in a flowing red dress, appears older and more melancholy, her white hair coiled on top of her head, her eyes wide and exaggerated.
—Emma Stefansky, Vulture, 27 July 2023
Not vertigo from the heights that Australia have now ascended, but something closer to nausea, from the winding, coiling road that took the host nation up into the clouds.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
The design helps to cut down on frizz while defining natural curls, coils and waves.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2023
This Week to hear more interesting facts about the evolution of curls and coils.
—Liz Clayton Fuller, Popular Science, 27 Sep. 2023
His tight coils covered our floor, and the next day all the kids on the school bus laughed at the nicks on his head.
—Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2023
Eddy currents occur in an item placed within the field, or coil, provided they are comprised of electrically conductive materials.
—Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
The higher the number, the curlier the hair and the tighter the coil.
—Sabina Wizemann, Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023
And because the magnetic field only feeds power to the resonating coil, the charger has no effect on humans or nearby objects.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
Some of the most common check-engine light repair issues include replacing catalytic converters, oxygen sensors and ignition coil and spark plugs, according to CarMD’s report.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 12 Aug. 2023
Brush hair back into a low bun, but leave out some hair around the perimeter of your hairline for a messy coil near your ears.
—Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 18 July 2023
Verb
The tender seafood is coiled on a hash of potatoes, chorizo and corn that gets a nice assist from dots of sunny yellow aji amarillo aioli.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
The pitch comes: Ohtani taps his toes, coils his hips, readies his hands, and strokes a line drive into right field.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2023
While techniques differ from cook to cook, most hold that the dough is laminated by rolling it out into a flat round, sprinkling it with scallions and oil, then rolling it into a log; next, the log is coiled up like a snake before it is rolled out into a flat round.
—Cathy Erway, Bon Appétit, 5 Sep. 2023
The bunches of lavender stems can be moistened and coiled around, stitched into a bowl shape with a natural twine.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 23 Aug. 2023
Stored for a period, prior to shredding, having been twisted into ropes to make each individual strand coiled and springy, horsehair also affords those lying horizontal on top of it a feeling of floating whilst being completely, and evenly, supported.
—Nick Scott, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2023
Its signature coiled silhouette, inspired by the Icon collection, has a unique allure, whether worn individually or layered with other necklaces and bracelets.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Town & Country, 18 Aug. 2023
Robin’s animated self, clad in a flowing red dress, appears older and more melancholy, her white hair coiled on top of her head, her eyes wide and exaggerated.
—Emma Stefansky, Vulture, 27 July 2023
Not vertigo from the heights that Australia have now ascended, but something closer to nausea, from the winding, coiling road that took the host nation up into the clouds.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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
Dictionary Entries Near coil
Cite this Entry
“Coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coil. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
coil
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
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
3
: a series of connected pipes (as in water-heating apparatus) in rows, layers, or windings
Medical Definition
coil
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on coil
Nglish: Translation of coil for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of coil for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coil
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