Cistern

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈsɪs.təːn/
• US IPA: /ˈsɪs.tÉšn/
• Rhymes: -ɪstÉ™(ɹ)n

Origin

From Old French cisterne (Modern French citerne) from Latin cisterna, from cista ("box"), from Ancient Greek κίστη (kistē, "box").

Full definition of cistern

Noun

1. A reservoir or tank for holding water, especially for catching and holding rainwater for later use.
• 1913, A.C. Cotter, Catholic Encyclopedia, "",Their extreme necessity is attested by the countless number of old, unused cisterns with which the Holy Land is literally honeycombed.
• 2001, Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager, Life in Biblical Israel Chapter 3, Cisterns (bôr, bō'r), mentioned frequently in the Bible, are artificial reservoirs, usually cut into bedrock, for collecting and conserving rain runoff from roofs and courtyards.
2. (technical) In a flush toilet, the container in which the water used for flushing is held; a toilet tank.
• 2003, Allan Windust, Waterwise House & Garden: a Guide for Sustainable Living Chapter 9, It is possible to connect your tank to your toilet cistern and/or garden, so that even if the water is not drinkable it still can be used productively to make major water savings.
3. (anatomy) A cisterna.

Anagrams

• cretins