Definition

1. Noun:
   • An artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an underground tank for storing rainwater: A man-made container, often large and built below ground level, designed to hold a supply of water or other liquid.
   • A tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet: The component in a toilet system, typically located above the bowl, which stores and releases water for flushing.
   • (Anatomy) A sac or cavity containing fluid, especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid: A natural reservoir or space in the body that holds a specific bodily fluid.

Usage Examples

• General Reservoir:
  • The old farmhouse collected its water supply from a stone cistern.
  • They built an underground cistern to store rainwater for irrigation.
• Toilet Component:
  • The plumber repaired a leak in the toilet cistern.
  • Please don't flush; the cistern is broken and needs to be refilled.
• Anatomical Structure:
  • Cerebrospinal fluid is stored in cisterns within the brain.
  • The cisterna chyli is a major lymph cistern in the abdomen.

Advanced Usage

• "Cistern head": The access point or cover for an underground cistern.
  • The cistern head in the garden was overgrown with weeds.
• "Cistern valve": A device that controls the flow of water into or out of a cistern.
  • A faulty cistern valve was causing the constant running sound.

Variants and Related Words

• Cisterna (n): The Latin-derived term used in anatomical contexts (plural: cisternae).
  • The subarachnoid cisternae are important in neurology.
• Cisternal (adj): Pertaining to or of the nature of a cistern.
  • A cisternal puncture is a medical procedure.

Synonyms

• Reservoir: A large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
• Tank: A container for holding liquid or gas.
• Vessel: A hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid.

Related Phrases

• To have a memory like a cistern: (Idiomatic, rare/archaic) To have a very poor memory, implying things go in but are not retained, like water draining from a leaky cistern.
  • He never remembers names; he has a memory like a cistern.
• Cistern wagon: (Historical) A railway wagon or cart equipped with a large tank for carrying water or other liquids.
  • The steam locomotive was followed by a cistern wagon for refilling.

Noun

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