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 DelvinExamples 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
David Sims, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
The Slate’s chassis is a simple design with a Macpherson strut front suspension and a De Dion axle and coil spring rear.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
It’s been two years since the devastating season 1 finale of The Last of Us, HBO’s adaptation of the 2013 Naughty Dog video game that coiled its tendrils around our throats and yanked us into a bleak apocalypse.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coil
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Noun
Yelena is an ex-Soviet mercenary à la Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow; after that character shuffled off the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s mortal coil, Yelena stepped into the vacant role.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
The Slate’s chassis is a simple design with a Macpherson strut front suspension and a De Dion axle and coil spring rear.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Curled under a rock was the tiniest snake ever recorded — slender as spaghetti, small enough to coil on a U.S. quarter.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
It’s been two years since the devastating season 1 finale of The Last of Us, HBO’s adaptation of the 2013 Naughty Dog video game that coiled its tendrils around our throats and yanked us into a bleak apocalypse.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coil
Cite this Entry
“Coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coil. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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
nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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