cylinder

noun

Any object in the form of a circular cylinder.

(geometry) A solid figure bounded by a cylinder and two parallel planes intersecting the cylinder.

(geometry) A surface created by projecting a closed two-dimensional curve along an axis intersecting the plane of the curve.

(automotive) 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.

A cylindrical cavity or chamber in a mechanism, such as the counterpart to a piston found in a piston-driven engine.

The part of a revolver that contains chambers for the cartridges.

An early form of phonograph recording, made on a wax cylinder.

(computing) The corresponding tracks on a vertical arrangement of disks in a disk drive considered as a unit of data capacity.

verb

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

Roots

kylindroscylind- · Greek · roller, cylinder

Synonyms & related words for cylinder

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Words related to cylinder

Explore words related to cylinder — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include cylindrically, piston, crankcase, cylindrical, camshaft, crankshaft, carburetor, engine. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does cylinder come from?

The word cylinder breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root cylind-, from Greek kylindros (“roller, cylinder”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.