cylinder

A drawing of a cylinder showing the height at the center.

Meanings

Noun

  • A surface created by projecting a closed two-dimensional curve along an axis intersecting the plane of the curve.
  • A solid figure bounded by a cylinder and two parallel planes intersecting the cylinder.
  • Any object in the form of a circular cylinder.
  • A cylindrical cavity or chamber in a mechanism, such as the counterpart to a piston found in a piston-driven engine.
  • The space in which a piston travels inside a reciprocating engine or pump.
  • A container in the form of a cylinder with rounded ends for storing pressurized gas; a gas cylinder.
  • An early form of phonograph recording, made on a wax cylinder.
  • The part of a revolver that contains chambers for the cartridges.
  • The corresponding tracks on a vertical arrangement of disks in a disk drive considered as a unit of data capacity.

Verb

  • To calender; to press (paper, etc.) between rollers to make it glossy.

Origin

  • From Middle French chilindre, cylindre, from Latin cylindrus, from Ancient Greek κύλινδρος, from κυλίνδω "I roll or wallow" (intransitive). calender.

Modern English dictionary

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Word of the Day

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Challenge yourself

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

And much more

Try out Vedaist now.