CISTERN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (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)

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cistern; water tank

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

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

Sense 3

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)

 Context examples 

It is also called parasellar supratentorial cistern.

(Anterior Supratentorial Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)

The inferior aspect of cerebellopontine cistern.

(Inferior Cerebellopontine Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)

The largest of the three principle cisterns in the subarachnoid space which is located between the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata.

(Cisterna Magna, NCI Thesaurus)

Any of the following subarachnoid cisterns: anterior, lateral, posterior and superior infratentorial cistern.

(Infratentorial Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)

The frontal aspect of the cistern of the corpus callosum.

(Anterior Portion of the Corpus Callosum Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)

The inner nuclear membrane separates the perinuclear cistern of the endoplasmic reticulum from the nucleoplasm.

(Nuclear Inner Membrane, NCI Thesaurus)

Any of the nine supratentorial cisterns within the subarachnoid space that occur laterally.

(Lateral Supratentorial Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)

When administered intrathecally, indium In 111 pentetate percolates up the spinal canal with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the basal cisterns of the posterior and middle cranial fossas.

(Indium In 111 Pentetate, NCI Thesaurus)

Intracranial arachnoid cysts usually occur adjacent to arachnoidal cistern and may present with HYDROCEPHALUS; HEADACHE; SEIZURES; and focal neurologic signs.

(Arachnoid Cyst, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

An anterior infratentorial subarachnoid cistern.

(Anterior Infratentorial Cistern, NCI Thesaurus)