roller
roller — noun
1. a long, round part inside a machine that rotates to press, flatten, carry, or sq
a long, round part inside a machine that rotates to press, flatten, carry, or squeeze materials as they pass through the equipment.
The mechanic cleaned the printer's rubber rollers with a soft cloth.
collocation: rubber rollers / printer rollers
Steel plates passed between heavy rollers at the factory and came out much thinner.
passive sense: material + pass between rollers
Trang adjusted the rollers on the laminating machine before starting the morning shift.
A worn roller on the conveyor belt caused the packages to slip and pile up.
The bakery uses large metal rollers to press the dough into flat, even sheets.
用法筆記
This sense is often used in compound nouns such as 'conveyor roller,' 'printer roller,' or 'paint roller' to specify the type of machine.
常見錯誤
2. a small cylinder of plastic, foam, or metal that strands of hair are wound onto
a small cylinder of plastic, foam, or metal that strands of hair are wound onto to create curls or waves, sometimes after being heated.
Talia slept with rollers in her hair so she would have curls in the morning.
collocation: sleep with rollers in hair
The heated rollers gave Liam's straight hair a soft wave in under ten minutes.
collocation: heated rollers
Greta removed the foam rollers from her hair and gently shook out the curls.
These plastic rollers are uncomfortable to sleep in, but they create very tight curls.
- curler
a shorter, everyday synonym; 'hair curler' is slightly more common in US English
- curling iron
a heated metal cylinder with a handle, held vertically rather than clipped into hair
用法筆記
Often modified by a material or feature: 'foam rollers,' 'heated rollers,' 'Velcro rollers.' The word 'curlers' is a common alternative.
3. a large, heavy vehicle with a wide metal drum at the front or rear that drives o
a large, heavy vehicle with a wide metal drum at the front or rear that drives over newly laid surfaces to press them flat and smooth.
Minho watched the steamroller flatten the fresh asphalt on the new road.
compound: steamroller (common synonym)
The heavy roller moved slowly across the construction site all morning.
collocation: heavy roller
After the roller passed over it, the gravel path became smooth and level.
A team of workers followed behind the roller and filled any gaps in the surface.
- steamroller
an older term for a steam-powered roller; now used informally for any heavy road roller
- compactor
a broader term; compactors press waste or soil, while rollers specifically smooth surfaces
4. a very long ocean swell that builds in height as it travels toward the shore, of
a very long ocean swell that builds in height as it travels toward the shore, often breaking with great force when it reaches shallow water.
Saira stood on the cliff and watched the rollers crash against the rocks below.
collocation: rollers crash against [something]
The experienced surfer paddled hard to catch a massive roller before it broke.
Powerful rollers swept across the bay during the winter storm last night.
Lotte could hear the rollers rumbling from her hotel room near the beach.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('rollers') to describe a series of large waves arriving one after another. 'Roller' suggests size and power more than the general word 'wave.'
常見錯誤
5. a brightly coloured bird found mainly in Africa, Europe, and Asia, known for tum
a brightly coloured bird found mainly in Africa, Europe, and Asia, known for tumbling or rolling through the air as part of its courtship display.
Ramón spotted a blue roller sitting on a telephone wire near the village.
collocation: blue roller / European roller (species name)
The roller's wings flashed bright blue and green as the bird dove through the air.
Birdwatchers travel to southern Europe each spring to see the European roller in the wild.
Emre photographed a lilac-breasted roller perched on an acacia branch in the savanna.
- coraciid
the scientific family name; too technical for everyday use
用法筆記
Usually modified by a colour descriptor ('blue roller,' 'lilac-breasted roller') or a geographical prefix ('European roller,' 'Indian roller') to specify the species.
6. a domestic pigeon bred to perform backward rolls and flips during flight, a trai
a domestic pigeon bred to perform backward rolls and flips during flight, a trait pigeon breeders call tumbling.
Tariro keeps twenty rollers in a large loft behind the family house.
collocation: keep rollers / rollers in a loft
The roller flipped backward in midair, then spread its wings and steadied itself.
Paul's roller won first prize at the county pigeon competition last weekend.
Imani bought two young rollers from a breeder in the neighbouring town.
- tumbler pigeon
a broader category that includes rollers; all rollers are tumblers, but not all tumblers roll continuously
- Birmingham roller
a specific breed of roller pigeon developed in England, famous for sustained backward rolling
用法筆記
Also called a 'tumbler' or 'tumbler pigeon.' The term 'roller' in this sense is used mainly by pigeon fanciers and is unlikely to appear in general conversation.