coins
coins — noun
1. A disc-shaped piece of metal that an official authority produces so people can u
A disc-shaped piece of metal that an official authority produces so people can use it as payment.
Fatima found a few coins under the sofa cushions while cleaning.
countable: a few coins, two coins
An old silver coin in the drawer had a picture of a king on it.
Kenji collects coins from different countries and keeps them in a blue album.
The cashier placed the coins on the counter and counted them one by one.
Tourists often check their coins for rare dates and special designs.
用法筆記
Countable — each individual piece is 'a coin', and a set of them are 'coins'. Frequently used with 'collect', 'find', 'count'.
常見錯誤
2. Metal money thought of as a general type of payment, especially the small amount
Metal money thought of as a general type of payment, especially the small amounts people carry for everyday purchases.
The bus driver asked if I had coins for the fare instead of a big note.
coins + for [purpose]
Olga emptied her purse and counted the coins for the parking meter.
When the power went out, the shop could only accept coins for payment.
Tariq keeps a jar of coins on his desk for coffee and snacks.
- change
more common in everyday speech; 'Do you have change for the bus?'
- loose change
coins that are not stored in a wallet or purse
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to coins as a category of money: 'He paid in coins.' To refer to individual pieces, use the countable sense (noun sense 1).
常見錯誤
coins — verb
1. To create a new word or phrase, or to use an existing one in a fresh way that be
To create a new word or phrase, or to use an existing one in a fresh way that becomes part of the language.
The term 'robot' was coined by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in 1920.
passive: [term] + is/was coined + by [person]
Linguists believe that teenagers coined the word 'selfie' through casual use.
Dr. Okafor coined a phrase to describe the situation: 'digital footprints'.
The advertising team coined the slogan 'Just Do It' for a global campaign.
文法句型
coin + a word / term / phrase / expression
用法筆記
Almost always used about the first known use of a word or phrase. The creator is named after 'by' in passive sentences.
常見錯誤
2. To make a large amount of money in a short time, especially through a successful
To make a large amount of money in a short time, especially through a successful business or product.
After the app went viral, the developers were coining it in from sales.
informal: be coining it (in)
Miguel's restaurant is so popular that he is coining money every month.
With thousands of daily orders, the online store is absolutely coining it.
- make a fortune
more formal and emphatic
- rake it in
similar informal register, suggests effortless profit
- lose money
to spend more than you earn
文法句型
be coining it (in)
be coining money
用法筆記
Always used in informal contexts, most naturally in continuous tenses ('is coining it', 'was coining money'). The fixed expression 'coining it in' is especially common in British English.
常見錯誤
3. To press a piece of metal between engraved tools to form a coin with a particula
To press a piece of metal between engraved tools to form a coin with a particular design.
The Royal Mint has been coining gold and silver pieces for centuries.
coin + [metal] into [coins]
Workers at the factory coin millions of small coins for the central bank.
coin + millions / thousands + of + coins
A special machine coins new pennies by stamping metal discs with a design.
文法句型
coin + metal / coins
用法筆記
Less common in everyday speech; 'mint' is more frequent for describing the process of making coins today.
常見錯誤
coins — adjective
1. Connected with the study, collection, or production of coins as a topic or activ
Connected with the study, collection, or production of coins as a topic or activity.
The museum has a large coin collection that dates back to ancient Rome.
coin collection / coin collector / coin club
Kenji joined a local coin club to meet other collectors and trade pieces.
The coin market in London attracts dealers from all over the world.
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive). You cannot say 'This collection is coin' — instead say 'This is a coin collection'.
常見錯誤
2. (Of a machine or device) designed to work when one or more coins are placed into
(Of a machine or device) designed to work when one or more coins are placed into a slot.
The old coin-operated washing machine in the basement takes only quarters.
collocation: coin-operated + [machine/appliance]
Aisha put two coins into the coin-operated dryer and pressed the start button.
The arcade has rows of coin-operated video games from the 1980s.
Coin-operated lockers at the train station let travellers store bags safely.
- pay-to-use
broader term; includes card and coin payment
- vending
specifically about machines that sell items
- free
available without payment
- card-operated
operated by credit or debit card
用法筆記
Usually written with a hyphen. Used before nouns like 'machine', 'locker', 'phone', 'vending machine'. Modern equivalents use card payments, so this term is often used for older or simpler devices.