Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: cylindrus, from Greek, from kylindein 'to roll'

cylinder

 noun
     
Related topics: Shapes, Patterns, Engineering
cyl‧in‧der [countable]
1CF a shape, object, or container with circular ends and long straight sides [↪ tube]:
The gases are stored in cylinders.
2TE the tube within which a piston moves forwards and backwards in an engine:
a four-cylinder engine
3

be firing/running on all cylinders

informal to be operating or performing very well:
The team is firing on all cylinders.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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