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pistons

  • plural
    of piston.
    piston
    noun
    a disk or cylindrical part tightly fitting and moving within a cylinder, either to compress or move a fluid collected in the cylinder, as air or water, or to transform energy imparted by a fluid entering or expanding inside the cylinder, as compressed air, explosive gases, or steam, into a rectilinear motion usually transformed into rotary motion by means of a connecting rod.

Example Sentences

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"They were equipped with a metal saw and cut through the pistons that held the frames of Renoir's works," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

However, during engine operation, moving parts such as pistons require constant lubrication, making it unavoidable that small amounts of engine oil enter the combustion chamber.

From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026

At least Honda is acknowledging the emotional vacancy left from the absence of pistons, flame and fuel, and making an effort to fill it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

The technology uses the bobbing floaters to compress pistons, which push hydraulic fluid into storage tanks located nearby on land.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2025

Below that, pistons and large cylinders engaged in a relentless dance with the ten wheels, two sets of small ones in front and three behind.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead