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

Today's advanced sun blocking roller shades are designed to do much more than simply protect privacy. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 30 June 2026

When deer bend down to eat the bait, paint rollers cover their heads in permethrin. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

The brand now includes a site with articles on wellness, relationships and business, as well as a buzzy e-commerce line of beauty products, such as mouth tape and ice rollers. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026

The vacuum and mop combo is a hands-free robot that auto-empties dirt into a 3-liter bag, self-washes the mop rollers, and auto-refills the water chamber for the next cleaning session. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026

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
• lint roller
• road roller
• rock and roller
• roller bearing
• roller-coaster
• roller rink
• roller skate
• roller towel
• stone roller

Rhymes for roller

• bowler
• dolor
• molar
• polar
• solar
• soler
• stroller
• troller
• volar
• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar

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