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

Xander Bogaerts’ slow roller to third base scored Arraez before Jake Cronenworth lined a double down the right field line to score Sheets. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025

Related Articles Johansson also sported a side part for the movie’s photocall in London on Monday night, channeling old Hollywood with wide roller curls and a bold red lip. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 June 2025

Instead, swap the sticky roller for a metal lint remover. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 18 June 2025

Take in the dramatic ocean vistas plus outdoor cafes, farmers markets, juice bars, and ice cream shops while walking or roller skating (my preferred mode of transportation) the path. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2025

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

Rhymes for roller

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

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