cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsi-stərn 

1

: an artificial reservoir (such as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (such as rainwater)

2

: a large usually silver vessel formerly used (as in cooling wine) at the dining table

3

: a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism

Examples of cistern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Constructing these water cisterns required sinking a hole 39 feet (12 meters) deep below what is now a courtyard space used by workers and for storing equipment. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025

For example, thousand-gallon cisterns that collect rainwater from the roof. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment Ukraine also said Thursday that 91 cars and cisterns belonging to Russian forces had been lost over the previous day, taking the wartime tally to 27,840. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

There were cisterns on the seven hills to collect rain. —Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin cisterna, from cista box, chest — more at chest

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsis-tərn 

: an artificial reservoir or tank for storing water usually underground

Medical Definition

cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsis-tərn 

: a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism