cyl ‧ in ‧ der /ˈsɪləndə, ˈsɪlɪndə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: cylindrus , from Greek , from kylindein 'to roll' ]
1 . a shape, object, or container with circular ends and long straight sides ⇨ tube :
The gases are stored in cylinders.
2 . 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.
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THESAURUS
■ types of shapes
▪ square a shape with four straight sides that are equal in length and four angles of 90 degrees
▪ circle a round shape that is like an O
▪ semicircle half a circle
▪ triangle a shape with three straight sides and three angles
▪ rectangle a shape with four straight sides and four angles of 90 degrees
▪ oval a shape like a circle, but that is longer than it is wide
▪ cylinder an object in the shape of a tube
▪ cube a solid object with six equal square sides
▪ pyramid a shape with a square base and four triangular sides that meet in a point at the top
▪ sphere a shape like a ball