[sil-in-der] 
| 1. | Geometry. a surface or solid bounded by two parallel planes and generated by a straight line moving parallel to the given planes and tracing a curve bounded by the planes and lying in a plane perpendicular or oblique to the given planes. |
| 2. | any cylinderlike object or part, whether solid or hollow. |
| 3. | the rotating part of a revolver, containing the chambers for the cartridges. |
| 4. | (in a pump) a cylindrical chamber in which a piston slides to move or compress a fluid. |
| 5. | (in an engine) a cylindrical chamber in which the pressure of a gas or liquid moves a sliding piston. |
| 6. | (in certain printing presses)
|
| 7. | (in certain locks) a cylindrical device for retaining the bolt until tumblers have been pushed out of its way. |
| 8. | (in a screw or cylindrical gear) an imaginary cylindrical form, concentric to the axis, defining the pitch or the inner or outer ends of the threads or teeth. |
| 9. | Computers. the tracks of a magnetic disk that are accessible from a single radial position of the access mechanism. |
| 10. | Textiles. the main roller on a carding machine, esp. the roller covered with card clothing that works in combination with the worker and stripper rollers in carding fibers. |
| 11. | Archaeology. a cylindrical or somewhat barrel-shaped stone or clay object bearing a cuneiform inscription or a carved design, worn by the Babylonians, Assyrians, and kindred peoples as a seal and amulet. |
| 12. | to furnish with a cylinder or cylinders. |
| 13. | to subject to the action of a cylinder or cylinders. |
cylinder cyl·in·der (sĭl'ən-dər)
n.
The surface generated by a straight line intersecting and moving along a closed plane curve, the directrix, while remaining parallel to a fixed straight line that is not on or parallel to the plane of the directrix.
A solid bounded by two parallel planes and such a surface, especially such a surface having a circle as its directrix.
A cylindrical or rodlike renal cast.
A cylindrical lens.
A cylindrical metal container for gases stored under high pressure.
cylinder (sĭl'ən-dər) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) A three-dimensional surface or solid object bounded by a curved surface and two parallel circles of equal size at the ends. The curved surface is formed by all the line segments joining corresponding points of the two parallel circles. |