DictionarycoilPronunciation: (koil), [key] —v.t. 1. to wind into continuous, regularly spaced rings one above the other: to coil a wire around a pencil. 2. to wind on a flat surface into rings one around the other: He coiled the rope on the deck. 3. to gather (rope, wire, etc.) into loops: She coiled the garden hose and hung it on the hook. —v.i. 1. to form rings, spirals, etc.; gather or retract in a circular way: The snake coiled, ready to strike. 2. to move in or follow a winding course: The river coiled through the valley. —n. 1. a connected series of spirals or rings into which a rope or the like is wound. 2. a single such ring. 3. an arrangement of pipes, coiled or in a series, as in a radiator. 4. a continuous pipe having inlet and outlet, or flow and return ends. 5. Med.an intrauterine device. 6. Elect. a. a conductor, as a copper wire, wound up in a spiral or other form. b. a device composed essentially of such a conductor. c. See ignition coil. 7. Philately. a. a stamp issued in a roll, usually of 500 stamps, and usually perforated vertically or horizontally only. b. a roll of such stamps. coilPronunciation: (koil), [key] —n. 1. a noisy disturbance; commotion; tumult. 2. trouble; bustle; ado. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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