cylinder

[ sil-in-der ]

noun

1. Geometry. a surface or solid bounded by two parallel planes and generated by a straight line moving parallel to the given planes and tracing a curve bounded by the planes and lying in a plane perpendicular or oblique to the given planes.
2. any cylinderlike object or part, whether solid or hollow.
3. the rotating part of a revolver, containing the chambers for the cartridges.
4. (in a pump) a cylindrical chamber in which a piston slides to move or compress a fluid.
5. (in an engine) a cylindrical chamber in which the pressure of a gas or liquid moves a sliding piston.
6. (in certain printing presses)
   1. a rotating cylinder that produces the impression and under which a flat form to be printed from passes.
   2. either of two cylinders, one carrying a curved form or plate to be printed from, that rotate against each other in opposite directions.
7. (in certain locks) a cylindrical device for retaining the bolt until tumblers have been pushed out of its way.
8. (in a screw or cylindrical gear) an imaginary cylindrical form, concentric to the axis, defining the pitch or the inner or outer ends of the threads or teeth.
9. Computers. the tracks of a magnetic disk that are accessible from a single radial position of the access mechanism.
10. Textiles. the main roller on a carding machine, especially the roller covered with card clothing that works in combination with the worker and stripper rollers in carding fibers.
11. Archaeology. a cylindrical or somewhat barrel-shaped stone or clay object bearing a cuneiform inscription or a carved design, worn by the Babylonians, Assyrians, and kindred peoples as a seal and amulet.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a cylinder or cylinders.
2. to subject to the action of a cylinder or cylinders.

cylinder

/ ˈsɪlɪndə /

noun

1. a solid consisting of two parallel planes bounded by identical closed curves, usually circles, that are interconnected at every point by a set of parallel lines, usually perpendicular to the planes. Volume base area × length
2. a surface formed by a line moving round a closed plane curve at a fixed angle to it
3. any object shaped like a cylinder
4. the chamber in a reciprocating internal-combustion engine, pump, or compressor within which the piston moves See also cylinder block
5. the rotating mechanism of a revolver, situated behind the barrel and containing cartridge chambers
6. printing any of the rotating drums on a printing press
7. Also calledcylinder seal a cylindrical seal of stone, clay, or precious stone decorated with linear designs, found in the Middle East and Balkans: dating from about 6000 bc
8. Also calledhot-water cylinder a vertical cylindrical tank for storing hot water, esp an insulated one made of copper used in a domestic hot-water system
9. firing on all cylinders
   working or performing at full capability

verb

1. tr to provide (a system) with cylinders

cylinder

/ sĭl′ən-dər /

1. A three-dimensional surface or solid object bounded by a curved surface and two parallel circles of equal size at the ends. The curved surface is formed by all the line segments joining corresponding points of the two parallel circles.

Derived Forms

• ˈcylinder-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• cylin·der·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cylinder¹

1560–70; < Latin cylindrus < Greek kýlindros roller, cylinder, akin to kylíndein to roll

Word History and Origins

Origin of cylinder¹

C16: from Latin cylindrus, from Greek kulindros a roller, from kulindein to roll

Idioms and Phrases

see firing on all cylinders .

Example Sentences

Songs like “Ruthless” and “Vicious Sensitive Robot” showed the full band firing on all cylinders, veering from yacht-rock trumpets to meditative jazz grooves, while “Paranoia” had a hypermodern ambience.

From Los Angeles Times

In a statement read to the court, a bomb disposal officer said the device contained nitrous oxide cylinders.

From BBC

It’s a set of 30-foot-high gold-colored pockmarked cylinders visible across the border.

From Los Angeles Times

The mechanic points to the cylinders, which he has just cleaned.

From BBC

The passengers were still sitting on the upper deck, with the lower deck used to accommodate all the gas cylinders.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrel