/ kɔɪl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
coil (sth) round, around, etc. sth | coil (sth) up to wind into a series of circles; to make sth do this :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
The snake coiled up, ready to strike.
Mist coiled around the tops of the hills.
[ vn ]
to coil a rope into a loop
Her hair was coiled on top of her head.
a coiled spring
■ noun
1.
a series of circles formed by winding up a length of rope, wire, etc. :
a coil of wire
2.
one circle of rope, wire, etc. in a series :
Shake the rope and let the coils unwind.
a snake's coils
3.
a length of wire, wound into circles, that can carry electricity
4.
= IUD
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (as a verb): from Old French coillir , from Latin colligere gather together, from col- together + legere choose or collect.