The Clue
Wind up (4 letter answer)
The Answer
COIL
Tags
Notes
The answer COIL is common and appears about once every 250 puzzles.
Related Clues
Helix
Spiral
Spring
Wind
Heater component
Heater feature
Hose shape
Part of an electromagnet
Postage purchase
Rattler's posture
Rattlesnake's shape
Rope arrangement
Rope formation
Rope ring
Slinky, basically
Slinky's shape
Snake shape
Snake's maneuver
Spiral shape
Spring, maybe
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Stamp purchase
Tesla item
Thing to wind
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Shakespeare's was "mortal"
What snakes do
Definition
COIL as a noun:
1. (coil, spiral, volute, whorl, helix) = a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"
2. (coil, whorl, roll, curl, curlicue, ringlet, gyre, scroll) = a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
3. a transformer that supplies high voltage to spark plugs in a gasoline engine
4. a contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
5. tubing that is wound in a spiral
6. reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit
COIL as a verb:
1. (gyrate, spiral, coil) = to wind or move in a spiral course; "the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action"; "black smoke coiling up into the sky"; "the young people gyrated on the dance floor"
2. (handbuild, hand-build, coil) = make without a potter's wheel; "This famous potter hand-builds all of her vessels"
3. (coil, loop, curl) = wind around something in coils or loops