cylinder

cyl·in·der

noun \ˈsi-lən-dər\

Definition of CYLINDER

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 table

2

: 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>

Examples of CYLINDER

1. the cylinder of a revolver

Origin of CYLINDER

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

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb