1.
coil (electrical or wire wound in loops)
A length of wire (usually copper) wound in loops, used in electrical circuits, motors, transformers, and electromagnets. Also refers to other coiled objects such as heating coils.
コイル is a loanword from English "coil," used in physics and engineering for a wound length of wire and, by extension, for similarly shaped objects.
Common collocations
- コイルを巻く: to wind a coil
- コイルが切れる: the coil breaks (e.g., burns out)
- 電磁コイル: electromagnetic coil
- 一次コイル / 二次コイル: primary coil / secondary coil (in transformers)
- イグニッションコイル: ignition coil (in engines)
Scope notes
- The Japanese term is largely restricted to electrical/mechanical contexts. For "hair coiled in curls" or other figurative uses common in English, Japanese tends to use 巻き毛 (curly hair) or other native expressions.
- For coils of rope or hose, Japanese typically uses 巻く or とぐろ instead.
Related words
Domain: Common in physics class, electrical engineering, and automotive contexts.