noun
Common
cylinder
SIH-lihn-duh
Cylinder (noun) means a solid or hollow object with straight parallel sides and a circular cross-section, like a tube or a can. Example: “The tin of biscuits was a tall cylinder with a lid.”
noun
1
A solid or hollow object with straight parallel sides and a circular cross-section, like a tube or a can.
"The tin of biscuits was a tall cylinder with a lid."
"The candle was shaped like a perfect cylinder."
"Water was stored in a large steel cylinder behind the house."
2
The chamber in an engine in which a piston moves back and forth.
"One cylinder in the engine was misfiring, so it ran roughly."
"The piston slides up and down inside the cylinder."
"The car's engine has four cylinders."
3
A container shaped like a tube used to hold pressurized gas.
"A gas cylinder for the camping stove sat by the tent."
"The hospital keeps spare oxygen cylinders in a locked cupboard."
"The diver checked his oxygen cylinder before entering the water."
How to use cylinder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tube-shaped object or space — from a gas canister to the chamber inside a car engine.
Common pairings
gas cylinder
engine cylinder
firing on all cylinders
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Word forms
- Plural
- cylinders
- Third person singular
- cylinders
- Past tense
- cylindered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tin of biscuits was a tall _____ with a lid.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek kulindros, from kulindo ("I roll"), via Latin cylindrus and Middle French cylindre.
Related words
Rhymes for cylinder
See all rhymes for cylinder →Frequently asked questions
What does “cylinder” mean?
The word “cylinder” means a solid or hollow object with straight parallel sides and a circular cross-section, like a tube or a can. In plain terms, a tube-shaped object or space — from a gas canister to the chamber inside a car engine.
How do you pronounce “cylinder”?
“Cylinder” is pronounced SIH-lihn-duh (/ˈsɪləndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cylinder” in a sentence?
Here is “cylinder” used in a sentence: “The candle was shaped like a perfect cylinder.”
What part of speech is “cylinder”?
“Cylinder” is a noun.
Where does the word “cylinder” come from?
The word “cylinder” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek kulindros, from kulindo ("I roll"), via Latin cylindrus and Middle French cylindre.
Is “cylinder” a common word?
“Cylinder” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cylinder” have?
“Cylinder” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a solid or hollow object with straight parallel sides and a circular cross-section, like a tube or a can.
Is a cylinder a prism?
Strictly, no. A prism has two identical flat polygon ends joined by flat faces, while a cylinder's ends are circles joined by one curved surface. A cylinder's volume is found the same way (base area times height), but because a circle is not a polygon, mathematicians do not class the cylinder as a prism.
How many faces, edges, and vertices does a cylinder have?
The usual school answer is three faces (two flat circular ends plus one curved surface), two curved edges where the circles meet the side, and no vertices. Some stricter textbooks count only flat surfaces as faces and would say two, so check which definition your course uses.
What is the difference between a 4-cylinder and a 6-cylinder engine?
The number tells you how many cylinders — the chambers in which the pistons move — the engine contains. More cylinders generally allow more power and smoother running, while fewer cylinders usually give better fuel economy, which is why most small cars use four.
Where does the expression "firing on all cylinders" come from?
It comes from engines: each cylinder must ignite its fuel at the right moment, and only when every cylinder fires correctly does the engine deliver full power. Figuratively, a person or team "firing on all cylinders" is performing at their very best.
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