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Definition of piston

piston

/ˈpɪs.tən/
pis · ton
Plural:pistons
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piston Lexical Profile

piston Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a larger cylinder and moves back and forth under fluid pressure, as in an internal combustion engine or a pump.

Example

"The mechanic had to replace the worn piston rings to restore the engine's compression."

2

A sliding valve in a brass musical instrument that changes the pitch by altering the length of the tubing.

Example

"She carefully oiled the pistons of her trumpet before the concert to ensure a smooth, rapid action during her solo."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for piston

• Rhymes for piston

• Nearby Words

pissing mare
pissis
pistachio
piston
pistou
pistyll rhaeadr
pit viper

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 18th century: from French piston, from Italian pistone, an augmentative of pisto 'pestle', from Latin pinsere 'to pound or crush'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Piston. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/piston
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