piston

noun

pis·​ton ˈpi-stən 

1

: a sliding piece moved by or moving against fluid pressure which usually consists of a short cylindrical body fitting within a cylindrical chamber or vessel along which it moves back and forth

2

: a sliding valve moving in a cylinder in a brass instrument which when depressed by a finger knob serves to lower the instrument's pitch

Examples of piston in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These findings were reached by growing small tissue models of the brain, some with the herpes virus and some without, which were then struck repeatedly with a piston to mimic concussion. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Sure enough, after the impacts from the piston, the HSV-1 cells became active and began causing their usual havoc – sparking inflammation, fostering the growth of tangle-causing amyloid plaques, killing off neurons, and leading to a runaway development of glial cells in a process called gliosis. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2025

Finally, a piston pumped rhythmically up and down, topping the carpet with dollops of ground beef. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Gucci’s next designer, Frida Giannini, brought back the piston lock details in 2009. —Megan O'Sullivan, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian pistone, from pistare to pound, from Old Italian, from Medieval Latin, from Latin pistus, past participle of pinsere to crush — more at pestle

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing piston

• piston pin
• piston ring
• piston rod

Kids Definition

piston

noun

pis·​ton ˈpis-tən 

: a sliding piece moved by or moving against the pressure of a fluid (as steam or hot gases) that usually consists of a short solid cylinder moving within a larger hollow cylinder

Biographical Definition

Piston

biographical name

Pis·​ton ˈpi-stən 

Walter Hamor 1894–1976 American composer