ignition coil

American

noun

(in an automotive ignition system) a transformer consisting of two wire windings or coils in which low-voltage direct current is fed through the primary winding to generate high-voltage spark pulses in the secondary winding.

ignition coil British

noun

an induction coil that supplies the high voltage to the sparking plugs of an internal-combustion engine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ignition coil

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The ignition coil in an engine transforms the battery’s 12-volt charge into thousands of volts, which are needed to create an electric spark to ignite the fuel.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2021

If you have a bad spark plug and ignore it long enough, it will exacerbate the wear and tear on the ignition coil, and eventually they will need to be replaced in tandem.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2021

Likely suspects include a dead electronic control module or ignition coil.

From Time Magazine Archive

Insufficient ignition translates as bad plugs or a weak ignition coil.

From Time Magazine Archive

A badly corroded battery terminal may cause the generator, ignition coil, and lamps to burn out because of the high resistance which the corroded terminal causes in the charging line.

From The Automobile Storage Battery Its Care And Repair by Witte, Otto A.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023