Crossword Genius

Element shaped in coils (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

silicon

'element' is the definition.
(silicon is a chemical element)

'shaped in coils' is the wordplay.
'shaped' is an anagram indicator.
'in'+'coils'='incoils'
'incoils' with letters rearranged gives 'SILICON'.

(Other definitions for silicon that I've seen before include "Non-metallic element with atomic no. 14" , "Element used in integrated circuits" , "Element used in making electronic chips" , "Element in sand, quartz" , "Element used as semiconductor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app