noun. A solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a larger cylinder and moves under fluid pressure, as in a reciprocating engine, or displaces or compresses fluids, as in pumps and compressors.

noun. A valve mechanism in brass instruments for altering the pitch.

noun. In machinery, a movable piece, generally of a cylindrical form, so fitted as to fill the sectional area of a tube, such as the barrel of a pump or the cylinder of a steam-engine, and capable of being driven alternately in two directions by pressure on one or the other of its sides.

noun. In musical wind-instruments of the trumpet family, one of the forms of valve whereby a crook is temporarily added to the tube and the pitch of the tones altered.

noun. In organ-building, a thumb-knob which may be pushed in like a piston, whereby some change in registration is pneumatically effected; a pneumatic coupler or combination knob.

noun. The central retractile part of the acetabulum or sucker of a cephalopod, whose action in producing a vacuum resembles that of the piston of an air-pump.

noun. 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.

noun. that part of a piston which is made fast to the piston rod.

noun. a rod by which a piston is moved, or by which it communicates motion.

noun. 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.

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)

noun. A valve device in some brass instruments for changing the pitch

noun. United States neoclassical composer (1894-1976)

noun. mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion

"But Black has size on his side and keeps forcing him against the ropes, getting in short piston blows into his ribs, which seem to move with a life of their own after the first blow."

combination piston  differential piston  displacer piston  double-piston locomotive  oscillating piston  

piston ring  piston rod  

composer  mechanical device  

Kristen  Liston  

accumulator  assembly  axle  bolt  brake  

bucket  plunger  ram