cylinder

noun

cyl·​in·​der ˈsi-lən-dər How to pronounce cylinder (audio)
1
a
: the surface traced by a straight line moving parallel to a fixed straight line and intersecting a fixed planar closed curve
b
: a solid or surface bounded by a cylinder and two parallel planes cutting all its elements
2
: a cylindrical body or space: such as
a
: the turning chambered breech of a revolver
b(1)
: the piston chamber in an engine
(2)
: a chamber in a pump from which the piston expels the fluid
c
: any of various rotating members in a press (such as a printing press)
especially : one that impresses paper on an inked form
d
: a cylindrical clay object inscribed with cuneiform inscriptions
cylindered adjective
Phrases
on all cylinders
: with maximum effort or intensity : at full capacity or speed
the economy is running on all cylinders

Examples of cylinder in a Sentence

the cylinder of a revolver
Recent Examples on the Web To enable more precise adjustments, the bike has twin throttle bodies with each pair of cylinders actuated independently. New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 The engine cover has six louvers, one for each of the cylinders. Jason Barlow, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024 The drillers pulled up hundreds of cylinders of ice, which turned out to contain a wealth of information about the climate and helped make ice drilling a scientific subfield. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024 The recycling truck, owned by the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and Environment, was between work sites in the 8400 block of North Laurel Canyon Boulevard when a fire broke out and spread to the vehicle’s cylinder of compressed natural gas, said Brian Humphrey, an LAFD spokesman. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cylinder 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cylinder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French cylindre, from Latin cylindrus, from Greek kylindros, from kylindein to roll; perhaps akin to Greek kyklos wheel — more at wheel

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cylinder was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near cylinder

Cite this Entry

“Cylinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cylinder. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cylinder

noun
cyl·​in·​der ˈsil-ən-dər How to pronounce cylinder (audio)
1
: a geometric shape composed of two parallel faces of identical size and shape (as circles) and a curved surface that completely connects their borders
2
: a body (as the piston chamber of an engine, the barrel of a pump, or the part of a revolver which holds the cartridges) shaped like a cylinder
cylindrical
sə-ˈlin-dri-kəl
adjective
cylindrically
-dri-k(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cylinder

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