n.
Pronunciation: ' sis-t ə rn
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin cisterna, from cista box, chest ― more at CHEST
Date: 13th century
1 : an artificial reservoir (as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (as rainwater)
2 : a large usually silver vessel formerly used (as in cooling wine) at the dining table
3 : a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism