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Definition of coil noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

coil

noun
 
/kɔɪl/
 
/kɔɪl/
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  1. a series of circles formed by winding up a length of rope, wire, etc.
    • The device consisted of a coil of copper wire, connected at either end to two electrodes.
    • a coil of rope
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • tight
    • thick
    preposition
    • in a coil
    • coil of
    See full entry
  2. one circle of rope, wire, etc. in a series
    • Shake the rope and let the coils unwind.
    • In her dream the snake wrapped its coils around her.
    • thick coils of blonde hair
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • tight
    • thick
    preposition
    • in a coil
    • coil of
    See full entry
  3. a length of wire, wound into circles, that can carry electricity
  4. (also IUD)
    an intrauterine device (= a small plastic or metal object placed inside a woman’s uterus to stop her becoming pregnant)
  5. Word Originearly 16th cent. (as a verb): from Old French coillir, from Latin colligere ‘gather together’, from col- ‘together’ + legere ‘choose or collect’.
See coil in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee coil in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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