coil
coil
/kɔɪl/
to wind into a series of circles; to make something do this
coil up The snake coiled up, ready to strike.
coil round, around, etc. something Mist coiled around the tops of the hills.
coil something (+ adv./prep.) to coil a rope into a loop
Her hair was coiled on top of her head.
Mechanical watches are powered by a coiled spring.
He coiled the rope up tightly and put it away.
Her hair was neatly coiled into a bun.
The snake coiled itself around a branch.
He coiled the rope into a loop.
Collocations
adverb
tightly
loosely
up
preposition
around
round
into
coil
/kɔɪl/
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
Collocations Dictionary
adjective
tightthick
preposition
in a coilcoil of
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
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)
Word Origin
early 16th cent. (as a verb): from Old French coillir, from Latin colligere ‘gather together’, from col- ‘together’ + legere ‘choose or collect’.