roller

¹

[roh-ler]

noun

1. a person or thing that rolls.

2. a cylinder, wheel, caster, or the like, upon which something is rolled along.

3. a cylindrical body, revolving on a fixed axis, especially one to facilitate the movement of something passed over or around it.

4. a cylindrical object upon which something is rolled up.

   the roller of a window shade.

5. a hollow, cylindrical object of plastic, stiff net, or the like, upon which hair is rolled up for setting.

6. a cylindrical body for rolling over something to be spread out, leveled, crushed, smoothed, compacted, impressed, inked, etc.

7. any of various other revolving cylindrical bodies, as the barrel of a music box.

8. Metalworking.,  a person in charge of a rolling mill.

9. a long, swelling wave advancing steadily.

   Synonyms: comber, breaker

10. a rolled bandage.

roller

²

[roh-ler]

noun

Ornithology.

1. any of several Old World birds of the family Coraciidae that tumble or roll over in flight, especially in the breeding season.

2. tumbler.

3. one of a variety of canaries having a warbling or trilling song.

roller

/ ˈrəʊlə /

noun

1. a cylinder having an absorbent surface and a handle, used for spreading paint

2. Also called: garden roller. a heavy cast-iron cylinder or pair of cylinders on an axle to which a handle is attached; used for flattening lawns

3. a long heavy wave of the sea, advancing towards the shore Compare breaker 1

4. a hardened cylinder of precision-ground steel that forms one of the rolling components of a roller bearing or of a linked driving chain

5. a cylinder fitted on pivots, used to enable heavy objects to be easily moved; castor

6. printing a cylinder, usually of hard rubber, used to ink a forme or plate before impression

7. a cylindrical tube or barrel onto which material is rolled for transport or storage

8. any of various other cylindrical devices that rotate about a cylinder, used for any of various purposes

9. a small cylinder, esp one that is heated, onto which a woman's hair may be rolled to make it curl

10. med a bandage consisting of a long strip of muslin or cheesecloth rolled tightly into a cylindrical form before application

11. a band fastened around a horse's belly to keep a blanket in position

12. any of various Old World birds of the family Coraciidae , such as Coracias garrulus ( European roller ), that have a blue, green, and brown plumage, a slightly hooked bill, and an erratic flight: order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, etc)

13. (often capital) a variety of tumbler pigeon that performs characteristic backward somersaults in flight

14. a breed of canary that has a soft trilling song in which the notes are run together

15. a person or thing that rolls

16. a man who rolls and trims fleeces after shearing

17. short for roadroller steamroller

18. short for roller caption

Word History and Origins

Origin of roller¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; roll ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Origin of roller²

First recorded in 1675–85; from German Roller, derivative of rollen to roll

Example Sentences

“I love roller coasters. I love that carnival energy going on. I love arcades. I love everything about that festive outdoor thing, and I’ve never grown out of it.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was something of “a roller coaster,” said Karty, who aims to pick up where he left off last season.

From Los Angeles Times

With the case already under a microscope, the release of the audio file created yet another roller coaster of speculation and doubt.

From Los Angeles Times

Children were among those on the Wacky Worm ride, which is described as a "small introductory roller coaster" on its website, when the incident occurred.

From BBC

At age 20, it was an incredible roller coaster.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crest 
• flood 
• influx 
• movement 
• outbreak 
• rash 
• rush 
• sign 
• stream 
• surge 
• swell 
• tide 
• upsurge