plural cylinders
1
: a shape that has straight sides and two circular ends
2
: something that is shaped like a cylinder: such as
a
: a tube in which a piston of an engine moves
a four-cylinder engine
b
: the part of a gun that turns and that holds the bullets
the cylinder of a revolver
Cite this Entry
“Cylinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cylinder. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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