Standard Lemma guide

roller

noun · verb · 35 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹəʊlə/
  • General-American: /ˈɹoʊlɚ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊlə(ɹ)
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R OW1 L ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Anything that rolls.

Any rotating cylindrical device that is part of a machine, especially one used to apply or reduce pressure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Anything that rolls.

A cylindrical (or approximately cylindrical) item used under a heavy object to facilitate moving it; usually several are needed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Anything that rolls.

A person who rolls something, such as cigars or molten metal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Anything that rolls.

A large rolling device used to flatten a grass surface; commonly in relation to a cricket pitch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Anything that rolls.

A cylindrical tool for applying paint or ink.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paint roller, rolling paint brush, rolling brush

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Anything that rolls.

An agricultural machine used for flattening land and breaking up lumps of earth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

Anything that rolls.

One of a set of small cylindrical tubes used to curl hair.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

Anything that rolls.

A roller towel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

Anything that rolls.

A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Anything that rolls.

A rolling element inside a roller bearing: a small cylinder or sphere of metal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

Anything that rolls.

One of a set of rolling cylinders allowing a rider to practise balance while training indoors.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: cycling, heading, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

Anything that rolls.

Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves, especially those in family Tortricidae.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

Anything that rolls.

A dung beetle that rolls dung into balls.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

Anything that rolls.

A cylinder snakes, small ground snakes of the genus Cylindrophis.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

Anything that rolls.

A rolling pin

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

noun

Meaning 16

Anything that rolls.

A throw which involves the player throwing the disc in a way that makes it roll, by that being able to travel further than if thrown in the air. Only used on holes with open areas with short or no grass.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: disc golf

Topics: heading

Examples

  • He threw a beautiful roller that cut the corner perfectly and stopped just outside the circle.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

noun

Meaning 17

A long wide bandage used in surgery.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

noun

Meaning 18

A large, wide, curling wave that falls back on itself as it breaks on a coast.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

noun

Meaning 19

A bird.

A breed or variety of roller pigeon that rolls (i.e. tumbles or somersaults) backwards (compare Penson roller, Birmingham roller, tumbler).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

noun

Meaning 20

A bird.

Any of various nonpasserine birds constituting the family Coraciidae, having stocky bodies, large heads, and stout bills hooked at the tip.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: heading

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

21

noun

Meaning 21

A police patrol car or patrolman (rather than an unmarked police car or a detective)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

22

noun

Meaning 22

A padded surcingle that is used on horses for training and vaulting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

23

noun

Meaning 23

A roll of titles or (especially) credits played over film or video; television or film credits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

24

noun

Meaning 24

A wheelchair user.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

25

noun

Meaning 25

A Rolls-Royce motorcar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

26

noun

Meaning 26

A type break that consists of drum rolls; a drum and bass track made with such breaks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

27

noun

Meaning 27

A Rolls-Royce car

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

28

verb

Meaning 28

To roller skate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

29

noun

Meaning 29

a grounder that rolls along the infield

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: grounder, ground ball, groundball, hopper

30

noun

Meaning 30

pigeon that executes backward somersaults in flight or on the ground

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tumbler, tumbler pigeon

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: domestic pigeon

31

noun

Meaning 31

Old World bird that tumbles or rolls in flight; related to kingfishers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coraciiform bird

Narrower terms: European roller, Coracias garrulus, ground roller

32

noun

Meaning 32

a mechanical device consisting of a cylindrical tube around which the hair is wound to curl it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a woman with her head full of curlers is not a pretty sight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: curler, hair curler, crimper

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mechanical device

33

noun

Meaning 33

a cylinder that revolves

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cylinder

Narrower terms: garden roller, paint roller, platen, sprocket, trundle

34

noun

Meaning 34

a small wheel without spokes (as on a roller skate)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wheel

Narrower terms: caster, castor

35

noun

Meaning 35

a long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: roll, rolling wave

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wave, moving ridge

History

Etymology

* From Middle English rollere, equivalent to roll + -er. * (credits in TV or film): These were originally printed on a physical cylinder that was rotated in front of the camera.

Across languages

Translations

91 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ролка (rolka) — anything that rolls
  • Dutch: roller — anything that rolls
  • Finnish: rulla — anything that rolls
  • Finnish: pyörittäjä — anything that rolls
  • Ancient Greek: κύλινδρος (kúlindros) — anything that rolls
  • Japanese: ローラー (rōrā) — anything that rolls
  • Korean: 롤러 (rolleo) — anything that rolls
  • Macedonian: ро́лна (rólna) — anything that rolls
  • Norman: rouôleux — anything that rolls
  • Polish: wałek — anything that rolls
  • Russian: ро́лик (rólik) — anything that rolls
  • Russian: колёсико (koljósiko) — anything that rolls
  • Russian: вал (val) — anything that rolls
  • Spanish: rodillo — anything that rolls
  • Tagalog: paralis — anything that rolls
  • Tagalog: rodilyo — anything that rolls
  • Ottoman Turkish: مردانه (merdane) — anything that rolls
  • Ottoman Turkish: لوغ (loğ) — anything that rolls
  • Bulgarian: вал (val) — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Finnish: tela — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Ancient Greek: κύλινδρος (kúlindros) — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Macedonian: ва́лјак (váljak) — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Norwegian Bokmål: vals — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Norwegian Bokmål: valse — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: vals — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: valse — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Russian: вал (val) — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Ottoman Turkish: مردانه (merdane) — rotating cylindrical part of a machine
  • Finnish: jyrä — cricket: large rolling device
  • Bulgarian: вал (val) — large, wide, curling wave
  • Finnish: maininki — large, wide, curling wave
  • Italian: cavallone — large, wide, curling wave
  • Macedonian: го́лем бра́н (gólem brán) — large, wide, curling wave
  • Māori: tārawa — large, wide, curling wave
  • Russian: буру́н (burún) — large, wide, curling wave
  • Russian: вал (val) — large, wide, curling wave
  • Bulgarian: валяк (valjak) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Chinese Mandarin: 滾筒刷 /滚筒刷 (gǔntǒngshuā) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Finnish: tela — tool for applying paint or ink
  • French: rouleau — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Hungarian: henger — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Icelandic: rúlla — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Kazakh: білікше (bılıkşe) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Macedonian: ва́лјак (váljak) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Mongolian: өнхрүүш (önxrüüš) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Norwegian Bokmål: rulle — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Norwegian Bokmål: malerulle — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Portuguese: rolo de pintura — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Russian: ва́лик (válik) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Spanish: rodillo — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Swedish: roller — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Ottoman Turkish: مردانه (merdane) — tool for applying paint or ink
  • Finnish: jyrä — agricultural machine
  • Māori: rōra — agricultural machine
  • Ottoman Turkish: لوغ (loğ) — agricultural machine
  • German: Roller — roller pigeon that somersaults backwards at high speed
  • German: Rollertaube — roller pigeon that somersaults backwards at high speed
  • German: Orientalischer Roller — roller pigeon that somersaults backwards at high speed
  • Russian: ту́рман (túrman) — roller pigeon that somersaults backwards at high speed
  • Bulgarian: синявица (sinjavica) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Chechen: чӏоб (čʼob) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Chinese Mandarin: 佛法僧 (fófǎsēng) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Chinese Mandarin: 三寶鳥 /三宝鸟 (sānbǎoniǎo) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Chinese Mandarin: 三寶鳥屬 /三宝鸟属 (sānbǎoniǎoshǔ) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Czech: mandelík — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Finnish: sininärhi — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • French: rollier — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • German: Racke — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Greek: χαλκοκουρούνα (chalkokouroúna) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Hebrew: כָּחָל (kaẖál) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Hungarian: szalakóta — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Hungarian: csörgőmadár — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Japanese: ブッポウソウ — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Japanese: 仏法僧 — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Japanese: ブッポウソウ科 (family) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Korean: 파랑새 (parangsae) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Korean: 파랑새과 (parangsaegwa) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Macedonian: модро́вранка (modróvranka) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Navajo: gáagii naashchʼąąʼígíí — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Persian: سبزقبا (sabzeqabâ) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Persian: سبزک (sabzak) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Persian: سبزگرا (sabzegarâ) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Polish: kraska — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Russian: сизоворо́нка (sizovorónka) — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Serbo-Croatian: zlatovrana — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Spanish: carraca — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Turkish: gökkuzgun — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Volapük: korak — bird of the family Coraciidae
  • Finnish: vikellysvyö — padded surcingle used on horses
  • Finnish: lopputekstit — TV, film: credits
  • Finnish: Rolls — nickname for Rolls-Royce car
Real reading context

roller in complete knowledge articles