coil
/kɔɪl/ verb C2- To wind or reel e.g. a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece. · A simple transformer can be made by coiling two pieces of insulated copper wire around an iron heart.
- To wind into loops (roughly) around a common center. · The sailor coiled the free end of the hawser on the pier.
- To wind cylindrically or spirally. · to coil a rope when not in use· The snake coiled itself before springing.
- To build a pot (etc) with clay coils.
He/she/it coils · Past coiled · Past participle coiled · -ing form coiling
Verb forms
- Base form
- coil
- He/she/it
- coils
- Past
- coiled
- Past participle
- coiled
- -ing form
- coiling
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
He had no intention of losing any advantage of the ground, and coiled and uncoiled himself once or twice, to be sure that every foot of his long body was in working order.
Then he began making loops and figures of eight with his body, and soft, oozy triangles that melted into squares and five-sided figures, and coiled mounds, never resting, never hurrying, and never stopping his low humming song.
Nag coiled himself up, raised his head, and looked into the bathroom in the dark, and Rikki could see his eyes glitter.
Nag coiled himself down, coil by coil, round the bulge at the bottom of the water jar, and Rikki-tikki stayed still as death.
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