1. A solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
   "The engine piston moves within a cylinder"
    
2. A surface generated by rotating a parallel line around a fixed line
   "The engineer designed a cylinder for the new engine"
    
3. A chamber within which piston moves
   "The mechanic inspected the cylinder for signs of wear";
   - piston chamber
    
4. A cylindrical container for oxygen or compressed air
   "The scuba diver checked his oxygen cylinder before diving"
    
5. (computing) the parallel set of tracks in a hard disk system used to store data
   "The hard drive had multiple cylinders for efficient data storage"

Derived forms: cylinders

Type of: chamber, container, round shape, solid

Part of: aqualung, Aqua-Lung, block, compressor, cylinder block, engine block, pump, scuba

Encyclopedia: Cylinder, Iowa