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roller

Pronunciation: /ˈɹəʊlə/

The English word “roller” has 20 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. Any rotating cylindrical device that is part of a machine, especially one used to apply or reduce pressure.
  2. A cylindrical (or approximately cylindrical) item used under a heavy object to facilitate moving it; usually several are needed.
  3. A person who rolls something, such as cigars or molten metal.
  4. A large rolling device used to flatten a grass surface; commonly in relation to a cricket pitch.
  5. A cylindrical tool for applying paint or ink.
  6. An agricultural machine used for flattening land and breaking up lumps of earth.
  7. One of a set of small cylindrical tubes used to curl hair.
  8. A roller towel.
  9. A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.
  10. A rolling element inside a roller bearing: a small cylinder or sphere of metal.
  11. One of a set of rolling cylinders allowing a rider to practise balance while training indoors.
  12. Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves, especially those in family Tortricidae.
  13. A dung beetle that rolls dung into balls.
  14. A cylinder snakes, small ground snakes of the genus Cylindrophis.
  15. A rolling pin
  16. 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.
  17. A long wide bandage used in surgery.
  18. A large, wide, curling wave that falls back on itself as it breaks on a coast.
  19. A breed or variety of roller pigeon that rolls (i.e. tumbles or somersaults) backwards (compare Penson roller, Birmingham roller, tumbler).
  20. Any of various nonpasserine birds constituting the family Coraciidae, having stocky bodies, large heads, and stout bills hooked at the tip.

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.

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