Words / B1

SIST-uh-n/ˈsɪstən/

A cistern is a tank that holds water, especially the one that fills a toilet. A tank may be a larger hot-water cylinder; a tap is the outlet. Caretakers: a leaking cistern still needs a proper repair; a bucket in the cubicle is not enough.

Meaning

A tank that holds water, especially the one that fills a toilet.

Examples

• “A leaking cistern still goes to the caretaker; a bucket in the cubicle is not a repair.”
• “A cistern in the loft can be the cold-water tank, which is the plumbing sense, not only a toilet.”

Good to know

a cistern. Contrast: a tank / a tap / a toilet. Caretakers / halls. Countable tanks. Mix-up: a system is an organised set, not a water tank.

New