piston

noun

pis·ton | \ ˈpi-stən

Definition of piston

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Piston

biographical name

Pis·ton | \ ˈpi-stən

Definition of Piston (Entry 2 of 2)

Walter Hamor 1894–1976 American composer

Examples of piston in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Finally, to help bring the Nevera to a stop, Rimac has developed a regenerative braking system that consists of a electro-hydraulic booster, a pedal feel simulator, carbon-ceramic Brembo rotors and six-piston calipers. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 1 June 2021 The four-piston Brembo brake calipers and 14.3-inch front, 13-inch rear disc brakes never faltered, even after hauling the 4,200-pound TLX Type S down from triple-digit speeds a couple dozen times during each track session. — Karl Brauer, Forbes, 20 May 2021 The first radical advance in piston engine performance came with Louis and Laurent Seguin's Gnome Rotary in 1909. — Walter J. Boyne And Alex Hollings, Popular Mechanics, 23 May 2021 On May 14, the ship's crew aboard the Japanese research vessel Kaimei lowered a giant piston corer 26,322 feet (8,023 meters) through the Pacific Ocean into the Japan Trench. — David Bressan, Forbes, 22 May 2021 The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage. — Detroit Free Press, 14 May 2021 The piston rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause engine damage, oil leaks and possible fires. — CBS News, 5 May 2021 The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage. — Detroit Free Press, 14 May 2021 The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage. — USA TODAY, 13 May 2021

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.

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Last Updated

19 Jun 2021

Cite this Entry

“Piston.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piston. Accessed 22 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for piston

piston

noun

English Language Learners Definition of piston

: a part of an engine that moves up and down inside a tube and that causes other parts of the engine to move

See the full definition for piston in the English Language Learners Dictionary

piston

noun

pis·ton | \ ˈpi-stən

Kids Definition of piston

: 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