cylinder

cylinder — noun

1. A container or shape whose ends are identical circles and whose sides run parall

1.nounB1
Definition

A container or shape whose ends are identical circles and whose sides run parallel between them, similar to a pipe or a can of soda.

Example

The restaurant stores cooking oil in large metal cylinders near the kitchen entrance.

cylinder — common storage container

Tanvi showed the children how to roll a flat sheet of paper into a cylinder.

cylinder as a geometric 3D shape

Common collocations
  • cylinder of gas
  • cylinder of oxygen
  • metal cylinder
  • cardboard cylinder
  • cylinder-shaped
Synonyms
  • tube

    more general; a tube can be flexible and need not have a circular cross-section

  • pipe

    usually refers to a hollow cylinder used for carrying liquids or gases, especially in plumbing

  • drum

    a large cylinder used for storing bulk liquids, often made of metal or plastic

2. A metal tube within an engine where a piston slides up and down to change fuel i

2.nounB2
Definition

A metal tube within an engine where a piston slides up and down to change fuel into motion.

Example

The mechanic inspected each cylinder of the car engine for cracks or scratches.

cylinder of an engine — standard context

Sven's motorcycle has a single large cylinder, which makes the engine simpler to repair.

Common collocations
  • cylinder head
  • cylinder wall
  • four-cylinder engine
  • six-cylinder engine
  • cylinder block

Usage Note

Often used in compounds like 'six-cylinder engine' or 'cylinder head'. The number of cylinders in an engine affects its power and smoothness.

3. In basketball, the painted area near the basket where offensive players cannot s

3.nounC1
Definition

In basketball, the painted area near the basket where offensive players cannot stay for more than three seconds.

Example

The referee called a three-second violation when Pim stayed inside the cylinder too long.

the cylinder = restricted area in basketball

Lucía drove past her defender and scored a layup from inside the cylinder.

Common collocations
  • inside the cylinder
  • step into the cylinder
  • leave the cylinder
  • three seconds in the cylinder
Synonyms
  • key

    short for 'keyhole area'; older term for the painted area near the basket

  • paint

    informal term referring to the colored area on the court floor

  • restricted area

    the official rulebook name for this space

Usage Note

Also called the 'restricted area' or 'lane'. In official FIBA and NBA rules, this is the painted area under the basket marked by a semi-circle or rectangle.

Common Mistakes

The guard stayed in the cylinder for five seconds and no foul was called.
The referee called a three-second violation when the guard stayed in the cylinder for five seconds.
The three-second limit applies to offensive players in the restricted area.

4. In basketball, the imaginary vertical space directly above the basket that defen

4.nounC1
Definition

In basketball, the imaginary vertical space directly above the basket that defenders must not touch during a shot.

Example

The referee called goaltending when Iris's hand entered the cylinder above the rim.

cylinder above the rim — imaginary vertical space

Once the ball is inside the cylinder, no defensive player may touch it.

Common collocations
  • above the cylinder
  • inside the cylinder
  • cylinder above the rim
  • enter the cylinder
Synonyms

Usage Note

Also called the 'imaginary cylinder'. Touching the ball inside this area is called goaltending (in the NBA) or basket interference (in FIBA rules).

Common Mistakes

The player touched the ball above the rim, and it was legal.
The player touched the ball above the rim, and the referee called goaltending.
Any contact with the ball inside the cylinder above the rim is a violation.
Idioms

on all cylinders / fire on all cylinders

idiom

Working or operating at maximum speed, effort, or ability; performing as well as possible.

With the new team members in place, the project is now firing on all cylinders.

After a slow start, the restaurant kitchen was running on all cylinders by dinner time.

working/firing on all cylinders

idiom

Using all your energy and effort to do something as well as possible.

After a good night's sleep, Maya was firing on all cylinders at work.

Is the team working on all cylinders for the final project deadline?

Word family

  • cylindrical
    adjectiveB2
  • cylindrically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Tube is the most general term — it can be flexible (a rubber tube) or rigid, and is not limited to circular cross-sections. Pipe specifically refers to a hollow cylinder that carries liquids or gases, often as part of a plumbing or industrial system. Drum describes a large, wide cylinder used for bulk storage of oil, chemicals, or dry goods. Canister is a smaller cylinder, typically with a lid, used for storing dry food, film, or compressed gas. For example: 'The plumber replaced a rusted pipe under the sink,' but 'She rolled the poster into a tube for mailing.'

tube ↗pipe ↗drum ↗canister

Common collocations

Nouns

  • gas cylinder
  • oxygen cylinder
  • steel cylinder
  • metal cylinder
  • cylinder head
  • cylinder wall
  • cylinder block
  • cylinder capacity

Phrases

  • cylinder-shaped
  • cylinder of gas
  • cylinder of oxygen
  • six-cylinder engine
  • four-cylinder engine

Prepositions

  • in a cylinder
  • into a cylinder
  • inside a cylinder
  • out of a cylinder

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word cylinder comes from Latin cylindrus, which was borrowed from Greek kylindros, meaning 'a roller' or 'something that rolls.' The Greek root kylindein means 'to roll.' The word has been used in English since the 16th century for geometric shapes and later extended to mechanical parts such as engine cylinders.