Piston vs. Syringe — What's the Difference?

A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors, hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings.

A syringe is a simple reciprocating pump consisting of a plunger (though in modern syringes, it is actually a piston) that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube called a barrel. The plunger can be linearly pulled and pushed along the inside of the tube, allowing the syringe to take in and expel liquid or gas through a discharge orifice at the front (open) end of the tube.

A solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a larger cylinder and moves under fluid pressure, as in a reciprocating engine, or displaces or compresses fluids, as in pumps and compressors.

A medical instrument used to inject fluids into the body or draw them from it.

(Music) A valve mechanism in brass instruments for altering the pitch.

A hypodermic syringe.

A solid disk or cylinder that fits inside a hollow cylinder, and moves under pressure (as in an engine) or displaces fluid (as in a pump)

A device used for injecting or drawing fluids through a membrane.

(music) A valve device in some brass instruments for changing the pitch

A device consisting of a hypodermic needle, a chamber for containing liquids, and a piston for applying pressure (to inject) or reducing pressure (to draw); a hypodermic syringe.

(intransitive) To move up and down or in and out like a piston.

To clean or rinse by means of a syringe.

A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes.

To inject by means of a syringe.

United States neoclassical composer (1894-1976)

A kind of small hand-pump for throwing a stream of liquid, or for purposes of aspiration. It consists of a small cylindrical barrel and piston, or a bulb of soft elastic material, with or without valves, and with a nozzle which is sometimes at the end of a flexible tube; - used for injecting animal bodies, cleansing wounds, etc.

Mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion

To inject by means of a syringe; as, to syringe warm water into a vein.

To wash and clean by injection from a syringe.

A medical instrument used to inject or withdraw fluids

Spray or irrigate (a body part) with a syringe