coilnoun [ C ]
uk/kɔɪl/us/kɔɪl/coil noun [ C ] (CIRCLE)
a length of rope, hair, or wire, arranged into a series of circles, one above the other:
A coil of rope lay on the beach.
figurative A coil of thick blue smoke rose up from his pipe.
specialized electronics a twisted length of wire through which an electric current travels
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Geometry: bends, loops & curves
- anfractuous
- arc
- bend
- curve
- dogleg
- helix
- hyperbola
- kink
- loop
- meander
- parabola
- peaked
- spiral
- swoosh
- trajectory
- turn
- twist
- whirl
- whorl
- wraparound
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Electrical components & circuitry
coil noun [ C ] (MEDICAL)
UK informal an IUD (= a medical device to stop a woman becoming pregnant)
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Obstetrics: contraception
- cap
- coitus interruptus
- condom
- contraception
- contraceptive
- Dutch cap
- family planning
- Femidom
- French letter
- johnny
- loop
- minipill
- morning-after pill
- prophylactic
- rhythm method
- safe sex
- sheath
- spermicidal
- spermicide
- sterilization
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coilverb [ I or T ]
uk/kɔɪl/us/kɔɪl/to arrange something in a coil:
She coiled her hair into a neat bun on top of her head.
The snake coiled itself tightly around the deer.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Bending, twisting and curving
- bent
- bowed
- buckle
- contort
- convoluted
- crook
- flexure
- fluted
- intertwine
- interweave
- matted
- meander
- meandering
- sinuous
- twiddly
- twine
- twisted
- twisty
- warp
- wring
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coiled
adjective uk/kɔɪld/us/kɔɪld/
a coiled spring