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Whorl vs Coil - What's the difference?

whorl | coil | Related terms |

Whorl is a related term of coil.


As nouns the difference between whorl and coil

is that whorl is a pattern of concentric circles while coil is something wound in the form of a helix or spiral or coil can be a noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil.

As verbs the difference between whorl and coil

is that whorl is to form a pattern of concentric circles while coil is to wind or reel eg a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece.

whorl

English

(wikipedia whorl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A pattern of concentric circles.
  • (botany) A circle of three or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.
  • (zoology) A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.
  • (archaic) A flywheel, a weight attached to a spindle, compare 1460.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To form a pattern of concentric circles.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2008, date=February 12, author=Jennifer Dunning, title=Modern Style, Old-Fashioned Virtues, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=“Waves Against the Sand,” to music by Martinu, which opened the program, filled the stage space with whorling patterns of dancers surging with the gentle but ceaseless momentum of the sea. }}

    References

    * * * whorl, Glossary of Terms, American Rhododendron Society English terms with homophones

    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

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