Coil

coil
    n 1: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
         series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: {coil}, {spiral},
         {volute}, {whorl}, {helix}]
    2: a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as
       formed by leaves or flower petals) [syn: {coil}, {whorl},
       {roll}, {curl}, {curlicue}, {ringlet}, {gyre}, {scroll}]
    3: a transformer that supplies high voltage to spark plugs in a
       gasoline engine
    4: a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
    5: tubing that is wound in a spiral
    6: reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that
       introduces inductance into a circuit
    v 1: to wind or move in a spiral course; "the muscles and nerves
         of his fine drawn body were coiling for action"; "black
         smoke coiling up into the sky"; "the young people gyrated
         on the dance floor" [syn: {gyrate}, {spiral}, {coil}]
    2: make without a potter's wheel; "This famous potter hand-
       builds all of her vessels" [syn: {handbuild}, {hand-build},
       {coil}]
    3: wind around something in coils or loops [syn: {coil}, {loop},
       {curl}] [ant: {uncoil}]
    

Coil \Coil\, n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. goil fume, rage.]
   A noise, tumult, bustle, or confusion. [Obs.] --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Coil \Coil\ (koil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coiled} (koild); p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Coiling}.] [OF. coillir, F. cueillir, to collect,
   gather together, L. coligere; col- + legere to gather. See
   {Legend}, and cf. {Cull}, v. t., {Collect}.]
   1. To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when
      not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils. [Obs. or R.]
      --T. Edwards.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Coil \Coil\, v. i.
   To wind itself cylindrically or spirally; to form a coil; to
   wind; -- often with about or around.
   [1913 Webster]

         You can see his flery serpents . . .
         Coiting, playing in the water.           --Longfellow.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Coil \Coil\, n.
   1. A ring, series of rings, or spiral, into which a rope, or
      other like thing, is wound.
      [1913 Webster]

            The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from
            trec to tree.                         --W. Irving.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a
      steam heating apparatus.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Induction coil}. (Elec.) See under {Induction}.

   {Ruhmkorff's coil} (Elec.), an induction coil, sometimes so
      called from Ruhmkorff, a prominent manufacturer of the
      apparatus.
      [1913 Webster]
    

63 Moby Thesaurus words for "coil":
      bolt, braid, brouhaha, bun, chignon, circles, cirrus, coil,
      corkscrew, crimp, crisp, cue, curl, curlicue, entwine, enwrap,
      evolute, foofaraw, furore, gyre, helix, involute, kink, knot, loop,
      part, piece, pigtail, plait, portion, queue, rattail, revolve,
      ringlet, roll, rotate, ruckus, rumpus, run, screw, scroll, shindig,
      shindy, snake, spiral, strip, swirl, tail, tendril, topknot, turn,
      twine, twirl, twist, uproar, volute, volution, vortex, whirl,
      whorl, wind, wrap, wreathe