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Glite Dictionary
piston rod

piston rod

1 4.8
A metal rod that connects a piston to other parts and moves with it
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪstən rɒd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : biela
  • During assembly, the technician aligned the piston rod with the connecting components of the engine.

Examples

  • Other options include a range of mounting accessories, NPT ports, and a corrosion-resistant piston rod.

    Academic text (2000)

  • I think the piston rod's stuck in the drive shaft.

    Fritz the Cat (1972)

  • A mounting block is bolted to the piston rod.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The cylinder's oversize piston rod diameter maximizes effective bearing area for impact resistance.

    Academic text (2002)

  • At eight o'clock, the temperature was ninety-one, and the repairman had already welded a piston rod in Amite and was headed south.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Most parts of the wrought-iron drivetrain were a given: the piston rod usually connected to a crosshead beam, which moved a connecting pin, and this pin would serve to turn the paddlewheel axle.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The mechanic replaced the broken piston rod to restore the engine's performance.

  • A sturdy piston rod is essential for the smooth operation of hydraulic systems.

Synonyms

connecting rod
vspiston rod
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A metal rod that connects the crank to a piston in a car engine

is used to transfer motion specifically from the reciprocating element inside cylinders
pushrod
vspiston rod
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A metal rod in an engine that moves parts to open valves

is narrower, attaching to and moving the reciprocating element inside cylinders

Surface Forms

piston rod singular
piston rods plural

Morphology

piston + rod

The meaning 'a rod that connects to and transfers motion from a piston' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'piston' (a component that transfers force) and 'rod' (a long straight piece of material). This noun–noun compound follows a productive, cross-linguistic compounding pattern used in technical vocabulary, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the term.

Etymology

The noun piston rod comes from its two parts: a piston (a part that moves back and forth inside a tube) and a rod (a straight metal bar). It is literally the bar that connects to the piston and pushes or pulls, so the name means 'a rod that transfers motion from a piston'.