cylinder
UK /ˈsɪlɪndə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈsɪləndɚ/ noun, verb
Forms cylinders cylindering cylindered
- noun (geometry) A surface created by projecting a closed two-dimensional curve along an axis intersecting the plane of the curve.
- noun (geometry) A solid figure bounded by a cylinder and two parallel planes intersecting the cylinder.
- noun Any object in the form of a circular cylinder.
- noun A cylindrical cavity or chamber in a mechanism, such as the counterpart to a piston found in a piston-driven engine.
- noun (automotive) The space in which a piston travels inside a reciprocating engine or pump.
- noun A container in the form of a cylinder with rounded ends for storing pressurized gas; a gas cylinder.
- noun An early form of phonograph recording, made on a wax cylinder.
- noun The part of a revolver that contains chambers for the cartridges.
- verb (transitive) To calender; to press (paper, etc.) between rollers to make it glossy.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle French chilindre, cylindre, from Latin cylindrus, from Ancient Greek κύλινδρος (kúlindros), from κυλίνδω (kulíndō) "I roll or wallow" (intransitive). Doublet of calander and calender.
Webster’s 1913
- noun (a) A solid body which may be generated by the rotation of a parallelogram round one its sides; or a body of rollerlike form, of which the longitudinal section is oblong, and the cross section is circular.
- noun Any hollow body of cylindrical form, as: (a) The chamber of a steam engine in which the piston is moved by the force of steam.
Etymology [F. cylindre, OF. cilindre, L. cylindrus, fr. Gr. Calender the machine.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “cylinder”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details