cylinder
C1technical/academic/everyday
Definition
Meaning
A solid geometric shape with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface.
A long, round object, often hollow; a device/chamber in an engine where a piston moves; a rotating printing press drum; a metal container for liquefied gas.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In mathematics and engineering, it refers to a precise shape. In everyday use, it can describe any tube-like object (e.g., 'a cylinder of oxygen').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral, technical.
Frequency
Common in both technical and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[cylinder] of [gas/oxygen][six-cylinder] [engine]in the [cylinder]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “running on all cylinders (operating at full efficiency/energy)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to gas supply containers or industrial parts.
Academic
Used in geometry, physics, engineering (e.g., 'volume of a cylinder').
Everyday
Oxygen/gas cylinders, car engine talk ('a six-cylinder car').
Technical
Precise geometric shape; piston chamber in engines; hydraulic component.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The machine cylinders the metal into perfect tubes.
- The press is designed to cylinder the paper smoothly.
American English
- The machine cylinders the metal into perfect tubes.
- The press is designed to cylinder the paper smoothly.
adjective
British English
- The cylinder lock was more secure.
- A cylinder seal from ancient Mesopotamia.
American English
- The cylinder lock was more secure.
- A cylinder seal from ancient Mesopotamia.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The gas for the barbecue comes in a red cylinder.
- A tin can is shaped like a cylinder.
- My car has a four-cylinder engine, which is good for fuel economy.
- We need to replace the oxygen cylinder for the medical equipment.
- The hydraulic system uses a piston moving within a sealed cylinder to generate force.
- In the lab, she carefully measured the liquid in a graduated cylinder.
- The novel's plot structure was not linear but cylindrical, returning to its thematic core with each revolution.
- The mathematician derived the formula for the surface area of a right circular cylinder.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CYLINDER' - 'CYL' like 'cycle' (round wheels), 'IND' like 'inside' (hollow), 'ER' as the object. A round, tube-like object.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER, POWER SOURCE (as in engine cylinders), PRECISION TOOL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, 'цилиндр' can also mean a top hat; English 'cylinder' does NOT refer to clothing.
- English 'cylinder' for gas container is specific; Russian may use 'баллон' more broadly.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'cylender' or 'cilynder'.
- Confusing with 'cone' (which has one pointed end).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'firing on all cylinders' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In geometry, yes, it has circular bases. In general use, it describes objects approximately round and tube-like.
A 'cylinder' often implies solid ends or a container, while a 'tube' is usually open at both ends and primarily for passage.
Yes, though rare. It means to shape like a cylinder or to print using a cylindrical press.
It indicates the number of piston chambers (cylinders) in the engine, which relates to power, smoothness, and efficiency.
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