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
Examples of cylinder in a Sentence
the cylinder of a revolver
Recent Examples on the Web
Prices start at 49 euros for a small bud vase and run up to 560 euros for a tall black marble cylinder, though most vases fall in the neighborhood of 200 euros.
—
Miles Socha, Footwear News, 17 May 2025
And all that has to be endured just because sealing passengers into a cylinder with no way to see out might give them a panicky case of the claustrophobic screaming meemies.
—David Szondy
may 16, New Atlas, 16 May 2025
McNamara noted that Worthington is the sole domestic manufacturer of gas grill cylinders and that peers have moved manufacturing overseas, giving the company a leg up as tariffs push higher.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 5 May 2025
But for now, a team of supreme talent is not clicking on all cylinders.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cylinder
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Miles Socha, Footwear News, 17 May 2025
And all that has to be endured just because sealing passengers into a cylinder with no way to see out might give them a panicky case of the claustrophobic screaming meemies.
—David Szondy
may 16, New Atlas, 16 May 2025
McNamara noted that Worthington is the sole domestic manufacturer of gas grill cylinders and that peers have moved manufacturing overseas, giving the company a leg up as tariffs push higher.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 5 May 2025
But for now, a team of supreme talent is not clicking on all cylinders.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cylinder
Cite this Entry
“Cylinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cylinder. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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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