cylinder

Main Entry:: cyl·in·der
Pronunciation:: \ˈsi-lən-dər\
Function:: noun
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
Date:: 1570

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 ; especially : right circular cylinder — see volume table2: a cylindrical body or space: 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 (as a printing press) ; especially : one that impresses paper on an inked form d: a cylindrical clay object inscribed with cuneiform inscriptions

— cyl·in·dered

\-dərd\ adjective

— on all cylinders

: with maximum effort or intensity : at full capacity or speed <the economy is running on all cylinders>

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