roller

1 of 2

noun (1)

roll·​er ˈrō-lər 

1

a

: a revolving cylinder over or on which something is moved or which is used to press, shape, spread, or smooth something

b

: a cylinder or rod on which something (such as a shade) is rolled up

2

a

: a long heavy ocean wave

b

: tumbler sense 1b

3

: one that rolls or performs a rolling operation

4

: a slowly rolling ground ball

roller

2 of 2

noun (2)

rol·​ler ˈrō-lər 

1

: any of various mostly brightly colored nonpasserine Old World birds (family Coraciidae) that perform rolling aerial dives during courtship displays

2

: a canary having a song in which the notes are soft and run together

Examples of roller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two walks, a bloop single, a slow roller and a double steal turned into three runs for the Nats, who wiped out the Giants’ early 1-0 lead. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

Those wanting to head out of town should aim for Mesquite, which is hosting a free street and dance party with a solar roller disco and a claim to having the longest totality in Texas, clocking in at four minutes and eight seconds. —Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024

Within a large subdial toward the bottom of the sizable dial, a system of rollers displays 24 city names via a button set within the crown; this system can be set to UTC, AST, EAS, or EWT, allowing the wearer to account for the differences of time around the world owing to daylight saving. —Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024

Previously, the airline counted the pet as the carry-on bag and travelers were not permitted to bring another roller bag with them. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024

Once the larger community of graffiti artists became aware of the wide-open towers in early February, it was hit by a tidal wave of painters armed with spray cans, rollers and pens. —Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024

The VTech Sit-to-Stand comes with a bunch of other fun features that engage their senses and motor skills, such as colorful spinning rollers, light-up buttons that play music and voices, and shape sorters for multi-sensory play. —Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

The rollers relieve tense muscles, and there are multiple intensity levels depending on the preferred amount of pressure. —Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024

After almost two decades in business, a Northern Kentucky roller skating rink is closing at the end of the week. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

German, from rollen to roll, reverberate, from Middle French roller — more at roll

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing roller

• high roller
• leaf roller
• roller coaster
• rock and roller
• road roller
• roller bearing
• stone roller
• roller towel
• roller rink
• roller skate

Kids Definition

roller

noun

roll·​er

ˈrō-lər

1

a

: a turning cylinder over or on which something is moved or which is used to press, shape, spread, or smooth something

b

: a rod on which something (as a map or a shade) is rolled up

c

: a small wheel (as of a roller skate)

2

: a long heavy wave on the sea

3

: one that rolls or rolls over

Medical Definition

roller

see tongue roller