coil

coil — noun

1. a rounded shape produced when a lengthy, bendable material such as string, cable

1.nounB2
Definition

a rounded shape produced when a lengthy, bendable material such as string, cable, or strands of hair is turned around and around to form stacked rings

Example

Ravi wound the climbing rope into a neat coil before storing it in the shed.

coil + into + neat — typical pattern for storing

A thick coil of black hair fell loose from the woman's bun during the dance.

coil of + hair — common collocation

Common collocations
  • coil of rope
  • coil of hair
  • coil of wire
  • neat coil
  • tangled coil
  • wind into a coil
  • form a coil
Synonyms
  • loop

    a single circle within a coil, not the whole coiled object

  • spiral

    a curve that winds outward around a central point, not stacked in layers like a coil

  • twist

    can mean a coil, but more often refers to a single unexpected turn

Usage Note

Countable noun. Often followed by 'of + material' (e.g. a coil of rope, a coil of wire). Frequently used with verbs like 'wind into', 'form into', or 'lie in'.

Common Mistakes

She wore her hair in a big curl on top of her head.
She wore her hair in a big coil on top of her head.
a curl is a curved lock of hair, while a coil is hair wound around itself in circles.

2. a looped piece of wire that carries electric current or produces a magnetic forc

2.nounB2
Definition

a looped piece of wire that carries electric current or produces a magnetic force as part of an electrical device

Example

The ignition coil in Theo's car failed, so the engine would not start.

ignition coil — car part collocation

Yara watched the induction coil in the physics lab generate a powerful spark across the gap.

induction coil — technical term

Common collocations
  • ignition coil
  • induction coil
  • copper coil
  • voice coil
  • coil spring
Synonyms
  • inductor

    technical term for a coil that stores energy in a magnetic field

  • solenoid

    a coil that converts electrical energy into mechanical movement

Usage Note

Countable noun. Common in compound nouns such as 'ignition coil', 'induction coil', and 'voice coil'. The material is usually copper wire.

Common Mistakes

The coil in the car engine needs oil.
The ignition coil in the car engine needs replacement.
a coil is an electrical component, not a part that needs oiling.

3. a small object made of plastic or metal that is fitted into the uterus and preve

3.nounB2
Definition

a small object made of plastic or metal that is fitted into the uterus and prevents pregnancy

Example

The doctor discussed the coil as a long-term birth control option with Leila.

the coil — definite article for a specific medical device

Hana's doctor recommended a hormonal coil when she complained about her painful periods at the clinic.

hormonal coil — adjective specifying type

Common collocations
  • hormonal coil
  • copper coil
  • have a coil fitted
  • coil insertion
  • coil removal
Synonyms
  • IUD

    the clinical abbreviation for intrauterine device, preferred in medical settings

  • intrauterine device

    the full medical term, more formal than 'coil'

Usage Note

Often referred to with 'have/get a coil fitted/inserted/removed'. Also called an IUD or intrauterine device. The types are hormonal (releasing progestogen) or copper (non-hormonal).

Common Mistakes

She uses a coil to prevent heart disease.
She uses a coil to prevent pregnancy.
a coil is a contraceptive device, not a treatment for other medical conditions.

coil — verb

Word family

  • coiled
    adjectiveB1
  • coiling
    adjectiveB2
  • uncoil
    verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe turning something around something else, but they differ in shape and purpose. 'Coil' specifically means winding into stacked circles or loops — a garden hose coiled on a hook or a snake coiled around a branch. 'Wind' is the broadest verb: you can wind thread onto a spool, wind a watch, or wind a path up a mountain, without creating layered circles. 'Twist' suggests turning two or more strands around each other (twist pieces of rope together) or rotating a single object (twist the lid off a jar). 'Curl' implies a gentler, looser curve, typically for hair, paper edges, or someone curling up on a sofa. Choose 'coil' when the result is a neat, repeating circular shape; use 'wind' for general wrapping around an object; use 'twist' for combining strands; and use 'curl' for soft, decorative bends.

coil ↗wind ↗twist ↗curl ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a coil of
  • coil around
  • coil up
  • wind into a coil
  • form a coil

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'coil' entered English from Old French 'coillir', meaning 'to gather together', which itself came from Latin 'colligere' ('com-' = together + 'legere' = to gather). The sense of winding into circles developed in the 1500s, and the medical meaning (a contraceptive device) appeared in the mid-20th century.