cistern

American  

[sis-tern] / ˈsɪs tərn /

noun

1. a reservoir, tank, or container for storing or holding water or other liquid.

2. Anatomy. a reservoir or receptacle of some natural fluid of the body.

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cistern British  

/ sɪˈstɜːnəl, ˈsɪstən /

noun

1. a tank for the storage of water, esp on or within the roof of a house or connected to a WC

2. an underground reservoir for the storage of a liquid, esp rainwater

3. anatomy another name for cisterna

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Other Word Forms

• cisternal adjective

Etymology

Origin of cistern

1250–1300; Middle English cistern ( e ) < Latin cisterna, equivalent to cist ( a ) ( cist ¹ ) + -erna noun suffix

Example Sentences

When it runs out, he jumps from one rooftop to another to gather buckets of water from nearby cisterns.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some smaller-scale ideas have emerged, such as installing cisterns, tapping water from swimming pools, or even turning to mobile pumps and pipes that could quickly route water where it’s needed.

From Los Angeles Times

It appeared to have been fed by a stream from a outcrop uphill, and archaeologists believe it may have been a water cistern to store fresh water.

From BBC

The bigger concern is ingestion, as the fog covers plants or open water cisterns, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

External sprinklers that draw from cistern, pool or other water source via a pump.

From Los Angeles Times