English Explanatory Dictionary

cistern

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A reservoir or tank for holding water, especially for catching and holding rainwater for later use.
  2. In a flush toilet, the container in which the water used for flushing is held; a toilet tank.
  3. A shallow, typically oval, vessel made of porcelain, pottery, or glass.
  4. The receptacle that holds the fuel in an oil lamp.
  5. A cisterna.
  6. The vessel surrounding the condenser in a steam engine.

Pronunciation

/ˈsɪs.tən/ /ˈsɪs.tɚn/ en-us-cistern.ogg en-au-cistern.ogg

Word forms

cistern cisterns cestern cesterne

Etymology

From Middle English cisterne, from Old French cisterne (Modern French citerne) from Latin cisterna, from cista (“box”), from Ancient Greek κίστη (kístē, “box”). Doublet of cisterna.

Derived words

cerebromedullary cistern cisternal cisterned cistern epiphyte cisternful cisternless cisternography hog cistern intracistern
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