cylinder
UK: ˈsɪlɪndə | US: ˈsɪlɪndər
n. a solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross-section.
n. a cylindrical container or object, such as a piston chamber in an engine.
n. (in mathematics) a surface or solid bounded by two parallel planes and generated by a straight line moving parallel to itself and intersecting a fixed curve.
cylinder = cylind<roll> + er<noun suffix>
- cylind (from Greek kylindros <roll, roller>)
Refers to the rolling or rounded shape of the object. - er (noun-forming suffix in English, indicating an object or tool)
Etymology Origin:
The word cylinder traces back to the Greek kylindros, meaning "roller" or "rolling pin," derived from kylindein ("to roll"). The term entered Latin as cylindrus and later Old French as cylindre, before being adopted into English in the 16th century. The morpheme cylind- preserves the core idea of a rolling or rounded form, while -er standardizes it as a noun in English. The word’s evolution reflects its geometric and functional association with rounded, rolling objects.
The engine’s performance depends on the precision of its cylinders.
She placed the rolled dough into a cylinder before baking.
The mathematician explained the properties of a right circular cylinder.
The gas was stored under pressure in a metal cylinder.
Ancient scrolls were often kept in protective cylindrical cases.