coil

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
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 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
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Hybrid mattress The best hybrid mattress is designed to target pressure points with a makeup of encased steel coils and foam layers. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2025 Clean Coils and Fins Use a soft-bristle brush to gently remove dirt, dust, and other buildup from the air conditioner’s evaporator coils and fins. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025
Verb
Flood echoed the sentiment of many traders that have said the market appeared coiled for a relief rally because so many hedge funds were caught on the wrong side of this bet. Yun Li, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025 Named after the serpent king from Hindu mythology who coils around Lord Shiva’s neck, Vasuki indicus carries a name as rooted in India as the rocks it was pulled from. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coil

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)

Time Traveler
The first known use of coil was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coil. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

coil

1 of 2 verb
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
3
: a series of connected pipes (as in water-heating apparatus) in rows, layers, or windings

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on coil

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