piston Definition
- 1a disc or short cylinder fitting closely within a tube in which it moves up and down against a liquid or gas, used in an internal combustion engine to derive motion, or in a pump to produce a flow.
- 2a sliding piece moving within a cylinder to compress or move a fluid or air
Using piston: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "piston" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The car's engine has four pistons.
Example
The piston in the syringe helps to inject the medicine.
Example
The pump uses a piston to create pressure.
piston Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for piston
Phrases with piston
a split ring fitted around the piston of an internal combustion engine in contact with the cylinder wall to provide a seal for the combustion chamber
Example
The mechanic replaced the piston rings to improve the engine's performance.
an internal combustion engine in which the force of the expanding gases against a piston drives a crankshaft
Example
The airplane is powered by a piston engine.
a type of positive displacement pump where the high-pressure seal reciprocates with the piston
Example
The hydraulic system uses a piston pump to generate pressure.
Origins of piston
from French 'piston', from Old French 'pistou', meaning 'pestle'
Summary: piston in Brief
A 'piston' [ˈpɪstən] is a cylinder or disc that moves up and down within a tube, used in engines to produce motion or in pumps to create flow. It can also be a sliding piece within a cylinder to compress or move fluids or air. Examples include the pistons in a car's engine, a syringe, and a pump. The term 'piston' extends into phrases like 'piston ring,' 'piston engine,' and 'piston pump.'
