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 Timber - What's the difference?

coil | timber |

As nouns the difference between coil and timber

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 timber is postage stamp.

As a verb coil

is to wind or reel eg a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece.

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 [...].
    Quotations
    * (English Citations of "coil")
    Derived terms
    * mortal coil

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    timber

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia timber) (en noun)
  • (uncountable) Trees in a forest regarded as a source of wood.
  • (British, uncountable) Wood that has been pre-cut and is ready for use in construction.
  • (countable) A heavy wooden beam, generally a whole log that has been squared off and used to provide heavy support for something such as a roof. Historically also used in the plural, as in "ship's timbers".
  • (archaic) A certain quantity of fur skins (as of martens, ermines, sables, etc.) packed between boards; in some cases forty skins, in others one hundred and twenty. Also timmer'', ''timbre .
  • (firearms, informal) The wooden stock of a rifle or shotgun.

    • Synonyms

    * (trees considered as a source of wood) timberland, forest * (wood that has been cut ready for construction) lumber (US), wood * (beam used to support a roof) beam, rafter

    Derived terms

    * half-timbered * shiver me timbers * timbered * timberland * timberline * timber wolf * timberyard

    Interjection

    timber!
  • Used by loggers to warn others that a tree being felled is falling.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fit with timbers.
    • timbering a roof
  • (falconry) To light or land on a tree.
  • (obsolete) To make a nest.
  • To surmount as a timber does.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----