cylindrical

Everyday

Cylindrical means shaped like a cylinder: a long round shape with two flat circles at its ends, like a tin can or a tube. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, cylindrical objects are 3D shapes with two circular faces and one curved surface; you can find their volume (area of the circle × height). In everyday life: tins, pipes, candles, drums, toilet-roll tubes are cylindrical. In science: a test tube is almost cylindrical.

Examples

• A tin of beans is cylindrical. tree →
• The tower was tall and cylindrical. tree →
• Roll the paper into a cylindrical shape. tree →
• A cylindrical container holds more if it is wider. tree →
• Many batteries are cylindrical. tree →
• The candle is cylindrical, with a circle on each end. tree →

Note

Pronounced «sih-LIN-dri-kul». Noun: cylinder. In maths, a cylinder has 3 faces (2 flat circles, 1 curved), 2 edges and no vertices; its volume = π × radius × radius × height.