cylinder

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemathematics

   A solid or hollow shape with two flat circular ends and a curved side joining them.

   Grammar: Countable: use a/an or the plural cylinders. Say a cylinder of something for a quantity.

   Patterns

   • a cylinder of something
   • the volume of a cylinder

   A tin can is shaped like a cylinder.

   The teacher asked us to find the volume of a cylinder with radius 3 cm and height 10 cm.

   The pipe is a hollow cylinder made of steel.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   The part of an engine in which a piston moves up and down to produce power.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural to describe engine size: a four-cylinder engine.

   Patterns

   • a four-cylinder engine
   • the engine has six cylinders

   This car has a four-cylinder engine, so it uses less fuel.

   One of the cylinders in the old truck was not firing properly.

   Mechanics checked the pressure inside each cylinder.

3. 3nouncountable

   A container shaped like a cylinder for holding gas or liquid under pressure.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with gas, oxygen, or fuel: a gas cylinder.

   Patterns

   • a gas cylinder
   • an oxygen cylinder

   The lab keeps oxygen cylinders in a locked cabinet.

   We need to replace the gas cylinder before the barbecue.

   The nurse checked that the oxygen cylinder was full.

Word forms

Common combinations

gas cylinder

The camping stove uses a small gas cylinder.

four-cylinder engine

Most small cars have a four-cylinder engine.

volume of a cylinder

To find the volume of a cylinder, multiply the area of the base by the height.

hydraulic cylinder

The excavator's hydraulic cylinder lifts the heavy arm.

cylinder head

A cracked cylinder head can cause the engine to overheat.

Synonyms and how they differ

tube

A tube is usually hollow and often flexible; a cylinder is a precise geometric or mechanical shape with flat circular ends.

drum

A drum is a wide container, often for oil or chemicals; a cylinder is defined by its shape, not its use.

Word family

cylindrical adjective

Having the shape of a cylinder.

Commonly confused: cylinder or prism?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “cylinder”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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