cylinder

n 1: a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel

planes (the bases)

2: a surface generated by rotating a parallel line around a

fixed line

3: within which piston moves [syn: {piston chamber}]

4: a cylindrical container for oxygen or compressed air

cylinder

The set of {tracks} on a multi-headed {disk} that

may be accessed without head movement. That is, the

collection of disk tracks which are the same distance from the

spindle about which the disks rotate. Each such group forms

the shape of a cylinder. Placing data that are likely to be

accessed together in cylinders reduces the access

significantly as head movement ({seeking}) is slow compared to

disk rotation and switching between heads.

(1997-07-15)