What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Coil vs Boil - What's the difference?

coil | boil |

As nouns the difference between coil and boil

is that coil is something wound in the form of a helix or spiral or coil can be a noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil while boil is a localized accumulation of pus in the skin, resulting from infection or boil can be the point at which fluid begins to change to a vapour.

As verbs the difference between coil and boil

is that coil is to wind or reel eg a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece while boil is to heat (a liquid) to the point where it begins to turn into a gas.

coil

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ; compare legend.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
  • the sinuous coils of a snake
  • * Washington Irving
  • The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from tree to tree.
  • Any intra-uterine contraceptive device (Abbreviation: IUD )—the first IUDs were coil-shaped.
  • (electrical) A coil of electrically conductive wire through which electricity can flow.
  • (figurative) Entanglement; perplexity.
  • Synonyms
    * (coil of conductive wire) inductor
    Derived terms
    * coil spring * impedance coil * mosquito coil * Oudin coil * Tesla coil

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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.
  • (obsolete, rare) To encircle and hold with, or as if with, coils.
  • Etymology 2

    Origin unknown.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil.
  • * 1594 , William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus , Act III:
  • If the windes rage, doth not the Sea wax mad, / Threatning the welkin with his big-swolne face? / And wilt thou haue a reason for this coile ?
  • * 1624 , John Smith, Generall Historie , in Kupperman 1988, p. 162:
  • this great Savage desired also to see him. A great coyle there was to set him forward.
  • * 1704 , Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub :
  • they continued so extremely fond of gold, that if Peter sent them abroad, though it were only upon a compliment, they would roar, and spit, and belch, and piss, and f—t, and snivel out fire, and keep a perpetual coil , till you flung them a bit of gold [...].
    Derived terms
    * mortal coil

    Anagrams

    * ----

    boil

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) bile, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A localized accumulation of pus in the skin, resulting from infection.
  • Synonyms
    * abscess * carbuncle * cyst * furuncle * pimple * pustule

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) "to well up, boil"). More at seethe, well.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The point at which fluid begins to change to a vapour.
  • Add the noodles when the water comes to the boil .
  • A dish of boiled food, especially based on seafood.
  • (rare, nonstandard) The collective noun for a group of hawks.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To heat (a liquid) to the point where it begins to turn into a gas.
  • Boil some water in a pan.
  • (intransitive) To cook in boiling water.
  • Boil the eggs for two minutes.
    Is the rice boiling yet?
  • Of a liquid, to begin to turn into a gas, seethe.
  • Pure water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  • (intransitive, informal, used only in progressive tenses) Said of weather being uncomfortably hot.
  • It’s boiling outside!
  • (intransitive, informal, used only in progressive tenses) To feel uncomfortably hot. See also seethe.
  • I’m boiling in here – could you open the window?
  • To form, or separate, by boiling or evaporation.
  • to boil sugar or salt
  • (obsolete) To steep or soak in warm water.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • To try whether seeds be old or new, the sense cannot inform; but if you boil them in water, the new seeds will sprout sooner.
  • To be agitated like boiling water; to bubble; to effervesce.
  • the boiling waves of the sea
  • * Bible, Job xii. 31
  • He maketh the deep to boil like a pot.
  • To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid.
  • His blood boils with anger.
  • * Surrey
  • Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath.
    Synonyms
    * (of a liquid) seethe, well, plaw ; see also * (of the weather) be baking]], be scorching, [[swelter, be sweltering * (of a person) be seething]], be baking, [[stew, be stewing
    Antonyms
    * (of a liquid) condense * (of the weather) be freezing * (of a person) be freezing
    Derived terms
    * boil away * boil down * boil down to * boil off * boil over * go off the boil * hard-boiled * make someone's blood boil * parboil * pot boiler * slow boil * soft-boiled
    See also
    * bake * condense * freeze * fry * grill * poach * steam