CISTERN

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cistern mean? 

• CISTERN (noun)
  The noun CISTERN has 3 senses:

1. a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid
2. a tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet
3. an artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an underground tank for storing rainwater

  Familiarity information: CISTERN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CISTERN (noun)

Meaning:

A sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

cistern; cisterna

Hypernyms ("cistern" is a kind of...):

sac (a structure resembling a bag in an animal)

Meaning:

A tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

water tank; cistern

Hypernyms ("cistern" is a kind of...):

storage tank; tank (a large (usually metallic) vessel for holding gases or liquids)

Meaning:

An artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an underground tank for storing rainwater

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("cistern" is a kind of...):

pool (an excavation that is (usually) filled with water)

reservoir (tank used for collecting and storing a liquid (as water or oil))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cistern"):

cesspit; cesspool; sink; sump (a covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it)

rain barrel (a barrel used as a cistern to hold rainwater)