Definition of piston
1 : a sliding piece moved by or moving against fluid pressure which usually consists of a short cylindrical body fitting within a cylindrical chamber or vessel along which it moves back and forth
2 : a sliding valve moving in a cylinder in a brass instrument which when depressed by a finger knob serves to lower the instrument's pitch
Explore M-W
Recent Examples of piston from the Web
-
Since a track-day car that goes like hell and doesn't stop is a car that crashes, Chevy fits huge 15.4-inch (391mm) brake rotors in front with six-piston Brembo calipers that use every millimeter of space inside the 19-inch diameter wheel.
-
The high-performance braking system brings all that go to a whoa in a hurry, thanks to six-piston front brake calipers and four-piston rears.
-
The four-wheel disc brakes have 12.4-inch vented front rotors with dual-piston calipers and 11.3-inch solid, single-caliper rotors rear.
-
As a result, the Vision Jet is the kind of plane that could Cirrus says could have a big impact on the aviation market -- bringing a jet much closer to the affordability range of many pilots who now opt for turboprop or piston planes.
-
And download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!
-
More Pistons coverage: DIRECTIONS: Add your name and then comment in the appropriate boxes.
-
Rather, go for niche products like steel wire, which are used to make components such as shock absorbers and piston cases in cars.
-
Download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piston.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of piston
French, from Italian pistone, from pistare to pound, from Old Italian, from Medieval Latin, from Latin pistus, past participle of pinsere to crush — more at pestle
Piston
playDefinition of Piston
Walter Hamor 1894–1976 American composer
PISTON Defined for English Language Learners
piston
playDefinition of piston for English Language Learners
-
: a part of an engine that moves up and down inside a tube and that causes other parts of the engine to move
PISTON Defined for Kids
piston
playDefinition of piston for Students
: a disk or short cylinder that slides back and forth inside a larger cylinder and is moved by steam in steam engines and by the explosion of fuel in automobiles
Learn More about piston
-
See words that rhyme with piston Spanish Central: Translation of piston Nglish: Translation of piston for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up piston? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!