[syn: cistern, water tank]
3. an artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an underground tank for storing rainwater;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Cistern \Cis"tern\, n. [OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne,
fr. L. cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See Cist, and cf.
chest.]
1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer,
or other liquids.
[1913 Webster]
2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. "The
wide cisterns of the lakes." --Blackmore.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
cistern
n 1: a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or
cerebrospinal fluid [syn: cisterna, cistern]
2: a tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet [syn:
cistern, water tank]
3: an artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an
underground tank for storing rainwater