Etymology : Middle French or Latin; Middle French cylindre, from Latin cylindrus, from Greek kylindros, from kylindein to roll; perhaps akin to Greek kyklos wheel; more at WHEEL
Pronunciation : 'si-l&n-d&r
Function : noun
Date : 1570
1. tube, tube-shaped figure; physical storage unit in a hard drive (Computers). cylinder\cyl"in*der\ (s?l"?n-d?r), n. [f. cylindre, of. cilindre, l. cylindrus, fr. gr. ky`lindros, fr. kyli`ndein, kyli`ein, to roll. cf. calender the machine.].
2. (geom.) (a) a solid body which may be generated by the rotation of a parallelogram round one its sides; or a body of rollerlike form, of which the longitudinal section is oblong, and the cross section is circular. (b) the space inclosed by any cylindrical surface. the space may be limited or unlimited in length.
3. any hollow body of cylindrical form, as: (a) the chamber of a steam engine in which the piston is moved by the force of steam. (b) the barrel of an air or other pump. (c) (print.) the revolving platen or bed which produces the impression or carries the type in a cylinder press. (d) the bore of a gun; the turning chambered breech of a revolver.
4. the revolving square prism carrying the cards in a jacquard loom.cylinder axis. (anat.) see:
axis cylinder, under axis.cylinder engine (paper making), a machine in which a cylinder takes up the pulp and delivers it in a continuous sheet to the dryers.cylinder escapement. see:
escapement.cylinder glass. see:
glass.cylinder mill. see:
roller mill.cylinder press. see:
press.cylinder n.
5. a cylindrical container for oxygen or compressed air.
6. a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases).
7. a surface generated by rotating a parallel line around a fixed line.
8. a chamber within which piston moves [syn: piston chamber].
9. A solid body which may be generated by the rotation of a parallelogram round one its sides; or a body of rollerlike form, of which the longitudinal section is oblong, and the cross section is circular.
10. The space inclosed by any cylindrical surface.
11. The space may be limited or unlimited in length.
12. Any hollow body of cylindrical form The chamber of a steam engine in which the piston is moved by the force of steam.
13. The barrel of an air or other pump.
14. The revolving platen or bed which produces the impression or carries the type in a cylinder press.
15. The bore of a gun; the turning chambered breech of a revolver.
16. The revolving square prism carrying the cards in a Jacquard loom. a cylindrical container for oxygen or compressed air a chamber within which piston moves a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes a surface generated by rotating a parallel line around a fixed line.
17. 1. A cylinder is an object with flat circular ends and long straight sides. a cylinder of foam It was recorded on a wax cylinder.
18. A gas cylinder is a cylinder-shaped container in which gas is kept under pressure. oxygen cylinders.
19. In an engine, a cylinder is a cylinder-shaped part in which a piston moves backwards and forwards. a 2.5 litre, four-cylinder engine.