roller1

[roh-ler] /ˈroʊ lər/
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.
10.
a rolled bandage.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English; see roll, -er1
Synonyms
9. breaker, comber.

roller2

[roh-ler] /ˈroʊ lər/
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 (def 9).
3.
one of a variety of canaries having a warbling or trilling song.
Origin
1655-65; < German Roller, derivative of rollen to roll
Examples from the web for roller
  • There are some things so elastic that even the heavy roller of democracy cannot flatten them altogether down.
  • Note that it's not necessary to roll the new lawn's surface with a water-filled roller.
  • To make the surface durable, apply matte varnish according to the manufacturer's instructions with a foam roller.
  • Use a sprayer and roller to apply the product, then brush it in.
  • We roller skated with them clamped to our shoes, rode our bikes, walked all the way to school every school day on the sidewalks.
  • Result resembled a combination roller-skating rink and adobe pizza parlor.
  • Yet even a roller-coaster ride packs more chills with its thrills.
  • My program has been a wild roller coaster ride, both academically and personally, but it has been fun.
  • Expectant mothers aren't the only family members on a hormonal roller coaster.
  • roller cam, roller lifters, balance shafts and fuel injection.
British Dictionary definitions for roller

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 breaker1 (sense 2)
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.
(Austral) a man who rolls and trims fleeces after shearing
17.
short for roadroller, steamroller
18.
short for roller caption
Word Origin and History for roller
n.

late 13c., "thing that rolls;" early 15c., "rolling pin," agent noun from roll (v.). Meaning "hair-curler" is attested from 1795. Roller derby is from 1936 (see derby); roller hockey from 1926. Disparaging religious term holy roller is attested from 1842, American English, from the alleged rolling in the church aisles done by those in the Spirit.

Slang definitions & phrases for roller

roller

noun
  1. A prison guard (1940s+ Prison)
  2. A police officer (1964+ Black)
  3. A thief who robs drunks (1915+)
Related Terms

down the goodyears, high roller, pill-pusher, steamroller

[first two senses fr late 1700s British rollers, ''horse and foot patrols of police'']


Encyclopedia Article for roller

any of about 12 species of Old World birds constituting the family Coraciidae (order Coraciiformes), named for the dives and somersaults they perform during the display flights in courtship. The family is sometimes considered to include the ground rollers and cuckoo rollers. Rollers inhabit warm regions from Europe and Africa to Australia.

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