coil

A length of rope, wire, or similar material arranged in connected round loops.

• A coil of rope lay on the floor.
• She carried a heavy coil of cable.
• Keep the hose in a loose coil.

How to use it: coil of something (There is a coil of wire on the shelf.)

Common phrases: coil of rope, coil of wire, tight coil, snake coil

Wire wound into loops, used in an electrical device.

• Current flows through the coil.
• The motor contains several copper coils.
• We replaced the faulty ignition coil.

Similar words: winding

Common phrases: copper coil, electrical coil, ignition coil

To wind something into connected circles, or to form this shape.

• Coil the rope before you put it away.
• The snake coiled around a branch.
• She coiled up the garden hose.

How to use it: coil something up (He coiled the cable up.); coil around something (The snake coiled around the tree trunk.)

Similar words: wind, curl

Opposites: uncoil

Common phrases: coil a rope, coil around something, coil up