Lexic.us

Definition of Piston

1. Noun. United States neoclassical composer (1894-1976).

2. Noun. Mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion.

Definition of Piston

1. n. A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes.

Definition of Piston

1. Noun. A solid disk or cylinder that fits inside a hollow cylinder, and moves under pressure (as in an engine) or displaces fluid (as in a pump) ¹

2. Noun. (music) A valve device in some brass instruments for changing the pitch ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Piston

1. a part of an engine [n -S]

Medical Definition of Piston

1. A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes. Piston head, a slide valve, consisting of a piston, or connected pistons, working in a cylindrical case which is provided with ports that are traversed by the valve. Origin: F. Piston; cf. It. Pistone piston, also pestone a large pestle; all fr. L. Pinsere, pistum, to pound, to stamp. See Pestle, Pistil. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Piston

pistoled pistoleer pistoleers pistolero pistoleros pistoles pistolet pistolets pistolier pistoliers

pistoling pistolled pistolling pistols pistols at dawn piston (current term) piston chamber piston engine piston engines piston pulse

piston ring piston rings piston rod piston rods pistonlike pistons pistou pistous pistrinum supper pit

Literary usage of Piston

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An Introduction to Natural Philosophy: Designed as a Text Book, for the Use by Denison Olmsted (1854)
"Let us now consider the force which is required in each stage of the process, to elevate the piston, exclusive of the weight of the piston, rods, ..."

2. Dyke's Automobile and Gasoline Engine Encyclopedia by Andrew Lee Dyke (1920)
"It is placed in position over the cylinder, and as the piston is forced ... 10—Method of replacing a piston tai the cylinder with a string holding the ring ..."

3. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1910)
"At the bottom of the cylinder, under the piston, was introduced a pipe or tube, leading from the boiler, where the steam was generated, into the cylinder, ..."

4. Supreme Court Reporter by Robert Desty, United States Supreme Court, West Publishing Company (1887)
"A is a single-acting steam-cylinder, connected to the crank, B, on the bell-yoke by the slotted rod, C. This rod should be of such a length that the piston, ..."

5. Dyke's Automobile and Gasoline Engine Encyclopedia by Andrew Lee Dyke (1916)
"The piston of a gasoline engine is called a trunk piston, to distinguish it from the disc ... A trunk piston, is longer than its diameter, and is hollow, ..."

6. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Thus, by the continued up and down movement of the piston, all the air in the ... The next upward movement of the piston empties the air in the space (A), ..."

7. Mathematical and Physical Papers by Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Baron John William Strutt Rayleigh (1880)
"WHEN a piston is in motion in a cylinder which also contains air, if the motion of the piston be not very rapid, so that its velocity is inconsiderable ..."

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