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Glite Dictionary
cylinder press

cylinder press

8.0
A printing machine where a cylinder rolls paper over a flat bed of letters to copy text
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪlɪndər prɛs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : prensa de cilindro
  • The Otago Daily Times upgraded its printing plant in 1862 with a modest two-cylinder press, the first steam press in New Zealand.

Examples

  • The printer decided to invest in a new cylinder press to enhance the efficiency of their printing operations.

  • The industrialization of papermaking and the use of iron cylinder presses harnessed to steam (first used by the London Times in 1814) provoked much comment.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Using a cylinder press, the company was able to produce high-quality prints at a faster rate.

  • The design of the cylinder press allows the paper to roll over the type evenly, ensuring a clear and crisp image.

Synonyms

printing press
vscylinder press
23 3.1

A machine that makes many copies of pages with text or pictures on paper

describes a specific flat-bed and roller method rather than general mass production
printing machine
vscylinder press
  • Specialized
1 2.8

A machine that puts words and pictures onto paper

refers to the flat-bed plus rolling transfer technique not any device
rotary press
vscylinder press
  • Specialized
5.7

A machine that prints many pages quickly using a turning metal drum

uses a flat bed with a drum rolling over it rather than continuous rotation

Surface Forms

cylinder press singular
cylinder presses plural

Morphology

cylinder + press

The meaning is directly compositional: it refers to a press that uses a cylinder component, which a learner can infer from 'cylinder' (a round/rolling element) + 'press' (a device applying pressure). There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, and the construction follows straightforward, cross-linguistically common naming patterns for machines.

Etymology

Cylinder press comes from an early printing machine where a round cylinder rolled over a flat bed of inked letters to press the picture onto paper. That image of a rolling cylinder pressing the paper is why the machine is called a 'cylinder press' today.