cylinder

noun

cyl·in·der | \ ˈsi-lən-dər

Definition of cylinder

1a : 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 Formulas Table

2 : a cylindrical body or space: such 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 (such as a printing press) especially : one that impresses paper on an inked form

d : a cylindrical clay object inscribed with cuneiform inscriptions

on all cylinders

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

Other Words from cylinder More Example Sentences Phrases Containing cylinder Learn More About cylinder

Examples of cylinder in a Sentence

the cylinder of a revolver

Recent Examples on the Web The cockpit voice recorder, also an orange cylinder, was found two days later on Wednesday. — Fox News, 27 Mar. 2022 The cockpit voice recorder, also an orange cylinder, was found two days later on Wednesday. — Ken Moritsugu, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2022 The cockpit voice recorder, also an orange cylinder, was found two days later on Wednesday. — Ken Moritsugu, ajc, 27 Mar. 2022 The cockpit voice recorder, also an orange cylinder, was found two days later on Wednesday. — NBC News, 27 Mar. 2022 Another official said the blaze erupted when an oxygen cylinder exploded. — Star Tribune, 13 July 2021 Another official said the blaze erupted when an oxygen cylinder exploded. — Abdulrahman Zeyad And Samya Kullab, chicagotribune.com, 13 July 2021 This is the view of the top of a cylinder as the TPS ignition module sends out a plasma pulse. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 8 June 2022 All-wheel drive is available on lesser four-cylinder Nautilus trims but comes standard with the V-6. — Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 7 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cylinder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.