noun
cistern
SIHS-tuhn
noun
1
A tank or reservoir used to store water, especially rainwater, for later use.
"The old farmhouse still relied on a cistern for its water supply."
2
The container inside a toilet that holds the water used to flush it.
"The cistern had been leaking quietly for months, wasting water."
How to Use Cistern
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tank that stores water, whether for household supply or inside a toilet.
Common pairings
water cistern
toilet cistern
Word Forms
cisterns plural
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The old farmhouse still relied on a _____ for its water supply.
Etymology
From Old French cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista ("box"), from Greek kiste.