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 DelvinSynonyms
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
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
Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses have coils that circulate warm air out of the mattress.
—Rachael Harris, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
Kelli Bender, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
When England’s team exposed caterpillars to electric fields similar to those generated by a flying wasp, caterpillars displayed defensive behaviors such as coiling, flailing, or biting.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coil 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The coils offer full lumbar support and are arranged to cradle your spine but are also stiff around the edge.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses have coils that circulate warm air out of the mattress.
—Rachael Harris, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
The rattler was coiled tightly and well camouflaged.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
When England’s team exposed caterpillars to electric fields similar to those generated by a flying wasp, caterpillars displayed defensive behaviors such as coiling, flailing, or biting.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coil
Dictionary Entries Near coil
Cite this Entry
“Coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coil. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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