cylinder
noun
cyl·in·der
ˈsi-lən-dər 
1
a
: the surface traced by a straight line moving parallel to a fixed straight line and intersecting a fixed planar closed curve
b
: a solid or surface bounded by a cylinder and two parallel planes cutting all its elements
especially
: right circular cylinder see Volume Formulas Table
2
: a cylindrical body or space: such as
a
: the turning chambered breech of a revolver
b(1)
: the piston chamber in an engine
(2)
: a chamber in a pump from which the piston expels the fluid
c
: any of various rotating members in a press (such as a printing press)
especially
: one that impresses paper on an inked form
d
: a cylindrical clay object inscribed with cuneiform inscriptions
see also:
Examples of cylinder in a Sentence
the cylinder of a revolver
Recent Examples on the Web
Bernstein initiates Arm as outperform Bernstein says the stock is firing on all cylinders.
—
Michael Bloom, CNBC, 18 May 2026
The offense is still not firing on all cylinders and their defense – one player, in particular – was costly.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Millions in India rely on liquified petroleum gas cylinders for cooking, but they are mostly imported from the Gulf and are in short supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Keeping the 6-cylinder engine alive is also a big win for the consumers who look to avoid the 4-cylinder turbo engines made by most manufacturers today.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
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Michael Bloom, CNBC, 18 May 2026
The offense is still not firing on all cylinders and their defense – one player, in particular – was costly.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Millions in India rely on liquified petroleum gas cylinders for cooking, but they are mostly imported from the Gulf and are in short supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Keeping the 6-cylinder engine alive is also a big win for the consumers who look to avoid the 4-cylinder turbo engines made by most manufacturers today.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cylinder
Cite this Entry
“Cylinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cylinder. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cylinder
noun
cyl·in·der
ˈsil-ən-dər
1
: a geometric shape composed of two parallel faces of identical size and shape (as circles) and a curved surface that completely connects their borders
2
: a body (as the piston chamber of an engine, the barrel of a pump, or the part of a revolver which holds the cartridges) shaped like a cylinder
cylindrical
adjective
sə-ˈlin-dri-kəl
cylindrically
adverb
-dri-k(ə-)lē
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