coil
coil — noun
1. a rounded shape produced when a lengthy, bendable material such as string, cable
a rounded shape produced when a lengthy, bendable material such as string, cable, or strands of hair is turned around and around to form stacked rings
Ravi wound the climbing rope into a neat coil before storing it in the shed.
coil + into + neat — typical pattern for storing
A thick coil of black hair fell loose from the woman's bun during the dance.
coil of + hair — common collocation
The electrician pulled a long coil of copper wire from his toolbox.
Priya's silver necklace lay in a tangled coil on the bathroom floor.
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often followed by 'of + material' (e.g. a coil of rope, a coil of wire). Frequently used with verbs like 'wind into', 'form into', or 'lie in'.
常見錯誤
2. a looped piece of wire that carries electric current or produces a magnetic forc
a looped piece of wire that carries electric current or produces a magnetic force as part of an electrical device
The ignition coil in Theo's car failed, so the engine would not start.
ignition coil — car part collocation
Yara watched the induction coil in the physics lab generate a powerful spark across the gap.
induction coil — technical term
Dr. Okafor explained how a copper coil produces magnetic force when electricity passes through it.
The electrician replaced the damaged coil in the transformer.
用法筆記
Countable noun. Common in compound nouns such as 'ignition coil', 'induction coil', and 'voice coil'. The material is usually copper wire.
常見錯誤
3. a small object made of plastic or metal that is fitted into the uterus and preve
a small object made of plastic or metal that is fitted into the uterus and prevents pregnancy
The doctor discussed the coil as a long-term birth control option with Leila.
the coil — definite article for a specific medical device
Hana's doctor recommended a hormonal coil when she complained about her painful periods at the clinic.
hormonal coil — adjective specifying type
Nadia decided to have a coil fitted after her second child was born.
At the city health clinic, Nurse Ines showed Beatriz how the copper coil prevents pregnancy without hormones.
- IUD
the clinical abbreviation for intrauterine device, preferred in medical settings
- intrauterine device
the full medical term, more formal than 'coil'
用法筆記
Often referred to with 'have/get a coil fitted/inserted/removed'. Also called an IUD or intrauterine device. The types are hormonal (releasing progestogen) or copper (non-hormonal).
常見錯誤
coil — verb
1. to wind something long and flexible repeatedly around itself or around another o
to wind something long and flexible repeatedly around itself or around another object, forming circles or loops
Yusuf coiled the garden hose neatly on the hook after watering the plants.
coil + object + adverb + preposition — transitive pattern
The snake coiled itself around the branch and watched the ground below.
coil + reflexive pronoun + around — reflexive pattern
Aiko coiled her long hair into a tight bun before the dance class.
Smoke from the campfire coiled slowly upward into the evening sky.
- uncoil
to straighten something that was coiled
文法句型
coil + object + around/into
coil + (intransitive: around/through)
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (coil something) or intransitively (something coils). The reflexive form 'coil itself' is common for living creatures. Subject for the intransitive sense is often a natural phenomenon (smoke, mist, fog) or an animal.