windings

Meanings

1. 1nounusually pluraltechnical

   coils of wire wound around a core, used in electric motors, generators, or transformers.

   Grammar: Usually plural: 'the windings are insulated'. A single coil can be called 'a winding'.

   Patterns

   • motor windings
   • copper windings
   • windings around a core

   The electric motor stopped working because the windings had overheated.

   Copper windings are used in transformers to conduct electricity efficiently.

   Technicians checked the windings for any signs of damage.

2. 2nouncountable

   the act of turning or coiling something, or a single turn in a coil.

   Grammar: Countable: 'a winding', 'several windings'. Often used in the plural for multiple turns.

   Patterns

   • the winding of a clock
   • a winding of wire

   The winding of the old clock takes a special key.

   Each winding of the rope made the knot tighter.

Word forms

Common combinations

motor windings

The motor windings need to be replaced after the burnout.

copper windings

Copper windings are preferred for their high conductivity.

insulated windings

The insulated windings prevent short circuits.

winding around a core

The winding around the iron core creates a magnetic field.

Synonyms and how they differ

coils

Coils is a more general term for any spiral shape; windings specifically refers to the coils in electrical devices.

turns

Turns refers to single loops of wire, while windings can mean the whole assembly of turns.

Word family

wind verb

To turn or coil something around something else; e.g., 'wind the wire around the core'.

winder noun

A device or person that winds something, such as a coil winder.

Commonly confused: windings or winding?

Practice

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