Coil vs. Reel — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
A coil is a series of loops, often of wire or rope, while a reel is a device around which a coil is wound, typically used for storing or dispensing.
Difference Between Coil and Reel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Coil refers to a series of loops or a single loop of a flexible material wound in a spiral or helix form. Reel, on the other hand, is a device around which a length of flexible material can be wound, typically designed with a handle for winding.
A coil can be made from various materials like metal, wire, or rope and does not necessarily require a spindle or axle. In contrast, a reel usually has a cylindrical core and is specifically designed for winding and unwinding.
Coils are often associated with electronic components, where they store energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through them. Reels are more associated with activities like fishing, where they hold and manage fishing line.
The concept of a coil is focused more on the shape and form, emphasizing the spiral or helical structure. Reels emphasize functionality, especially their utility in handling, storing, and dispensing flexible materials.
In practical applications, coils can exist independently, such as in inductors or mattresses. Reels often come as part of a system, like a fishing rod or a film projector, where they serve a specific mechanical purpose.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Series of loops
Winding device
Use
Electronics, ropes
Fishing, film
Nature
Passive
Mechanism involved
Describes
Form or shape
Holder or container
Implied Feature
Flexibility
Rotation
Compare with Definitions
Coil
A series of loops.
The snake coiled itself.
Reel
A spool-like tool.
The garden hose was on a reel.
Coil
To wind into a loop.
He coiled the rope neatly.
Reel
A reel is an object around which a length of another material (usually long and flexible) is wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core.
Coil
To twist or turn around.
The vine coiled around the trellis.
Reel
A device, such as a cylinder, spool, or frame, that turns on an axis and is used for winding and storing rope, tape, film, or other flexible materials.
Coil
A series of connected spirals or concentric rings formed by gathering or winding
A coil of rope.
Long coils of hair.
Reel
A cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod to let out or wind up the line.
Coil
An individual spiral or ring within such a series.
Reel
The quantity of wire, film, or other material wound on one reel.
Coil
A spiral pipe or series of spiral pipes, as in a radiator.
Reel
A set of curved lawnmower blades that rotate around a bar parallel to the ground, cutting grass while moving against a stationary straight blade.
Coil
A wound spiral of two or more turns of insulated wire, used to introduce inductance into a circuit.
Reel
A staggering, swaying, or whirling movement.
Coil
Any of various devices of which such a spiral is the major component.
Reel
A moderately fast dance of Scottish origin.
Coil
A roll of postage stamps prepared for use in a vending machine.
Reel
The Virginia reel.
Coil
A disturbance; a fuss.
Reel
The music for one of these dances.
Coil
To wind in concentric rings or spirals.
Reel
A handheld hammer used in a quarry for shaping granite blocks.
Coil
To wind into a shape resembling a coil.
Reel
To wind on or let out from a reel.
Coil
To form concentric rings or spirals.
Reel
To recover by winding on a reel
Reel in a large fish.
Coil
To move in a spiral course
Black smoke coiling up into the sky.
Reel
To be thrown off balance or fall back
Reeled from the sharp blow.
Coil
Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
The sinuous coils of a snake
Reel
To stagger, lurch, or sway, as from drunkenness
Reeled down the alley.
Coil
Any intrauterine device (Abbreviation: IUD)—the first IUDs were coil-shaped.
Reel
To go round and round in a whirling motion
Gulls reeling and diving.
Coil
(electronics) A coil of electrically conductive wire through which electricity can flow.
Reel
To feel dizzy
My head reeled with the facts and figures.
Coil
A cylinder of clay.
Reel
To cause to reel.
Coil
(figurative) Entanglement; perplexity.
Reel
A shaky or unsteady gait.
Coil
A noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil.
Reel
A lively dance originating in Scotland; also, the music of this dance; often called a Scottish (or Scotch) reel.
Coil
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.
Reel
A kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound.
A log reel, used by seamen
An angler's reel
A garden reel
Nudge the fruit machine reel
Coil
To wind into loops (roughly) around a common center.
The sailor coiled the free end of the hawser on the pier.
Reel
(agriculture) A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats, connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in position to be cut by the knives.
Coil
To wind cylindrically or spirally.
To coil a rope when not in use
The snake coiled itself before springing.
Reel
(film) A short compilation of sample film work used as a demonstrative resume in the entertainment industry.
Coil
To build a pot (etc) with clay coils.
Reel
To wind on a reel.
Coil
To encircle and hold with, or as if with, coils.
Reel
To spin or revolve repeatedly.
Coil
To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.
Reel
To unwind, to bring or acquire something by spinning or winding something else.
He reeled off some tape from the roll and sealed the package.
Coil
To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils.
Reel
To walk shakily or unsteadily; to stagger; move as if drunk or not in control of oneself.
Coil
To wind itself cylindrically or spirally; to form a coil; to wind; - often with about or around.
You can see his flery serpents . . . Coiting, playing in the water.
Reel
To back off, step away, or sway backwards unsteadily and suddenly.
He reeled back from the punch.
Coil
A ring, series of rings, or spiral, into which a rope, or other like thing, is wound.
The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from trec to tree.
Reel
To make or cause to reel.
Coil
Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.
Reel
To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy.
Coil
A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a steam heating apparatus.
Reel
To be in shock.
Coil
A noise, tumult, bustle, or confusion.
Reel
To produce a mechanical insect-like song, as in grass warblers.
Coil
A structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops;
A coil of rope
Reel
(obsolete) To roll.
Coil
A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
Reel
A lively dance of the Highlanders of Scotland; also, the music to the dance; - often called Scotch reel.
Coil
A transformer that supplies high voltage to spark plugs in a gasoline engine
Reel
A frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.
Coil
A contraceptive device placed inside a woman's womb
Reel
A machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks, - for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted, thirty inches.
Coil
Tubing that is wound in a spiral
Reel
A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats, connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in position to be cut by the knives.
Coil
Reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit
Reel
The act or motion of reeling or staggering; as, a drunken reel.
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
Reel
To roll.
And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reel.
Coil
Make without a potter's wheel;
This famous potter hand-builds all of her vessels
Reel
To wind upon a reel, as yarn or thread.
Coil
Wind around something in coils or loops
Reel
To incline, in walking, from one side to the other; to stagger.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man.
He, with heavy fumes oppressed,Reeled from the palace, and retired to rest.
The wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves.
Coil
A wound spiral of wire.
The coil in the motor burnt out.
Reel
To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy.
In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled.
Coil
A spring-like shape.
The mattress has steel coils.
Reel
A roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
Reel
Music composed for dancing a reel
Reel
Winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod
Reel
A winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound
Reel
A lively dance of Scottish highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps
Reel
An American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines
Reel
Walk as if unable to control one's movements;
The drunken man staggered into the room
Reel
Revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis;
The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy
Reel
Wind onto or off a reel
Reel
A device for winding.
He spun the fishing reel.
Reel
To wind or gather on a spool.
She reeled in the line.
Reel
A container for film.
They changed the movie reel.
Reel
To feel disoriented or dizzy.
He reeled from the news.
Common Curiosities
Are coils always flexible?
Usually, but they can be rigid in electronics.
Can you reel in a coil?
Yes, especially if it's a line or rope.
Is a coil used in electrical components?
Yes, often in inductors or transformers.
What is a reel?
A device for winding or holding coils.
Are reels used in gardening?
Yes, for hose storage.
Is the term coil used in sports?
Not commonly, except in context.
Can a reel be electronic?
Rarely, usually it's manual or mechanical.
Can a coil exist without a reel?
Yes, a coil can be standalone.
Is a reel always mechanical?
Often, especially in fishing or film.
What is a coil?
A series of loops or spirals.
Do reels always rotate?
Typically, for winding or unwinding.
Are coils found in mattresses?
Yes, as innersprings.
Can coils be decorative?
Yes, in jewelry or art.
Is the term reel used in cinematography?
Yes, for film storage and organization.
Do reels have a storage function?
Yes, for lines, films, or hoses.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
