Coaster
/ˈkoʊstər/
nounA2
Definition
A coaster can mean two common things. First, it is a small flat piece, often made of wood, plastic, or cork, placed under a cup or glass to stop water or heat from damaging the table. Second, a coaster is a fast amusement park ride that moves along a special track with ups and downs, called a roller coaster.
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⚡ See It in Action
Small flat object under cups to protect surfaces
- •Please put your glass on the coaster to avoid water rings on the table.
- •The coaster is made of cork and keeps the table dry.
- •I bought new coasters with funny pictures for my living room.
Amusement park ride (roller coaster)
- •The roller coaster at the theme park was very fast and exciting.
- •We waited in line for an hour to ride the coaster.
- •She screamed loudly while riding the roller coaster.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "coaster" like "mat" (A1 word), but smaller and used just for cups or drinks
- ✓Picture a small round or square piece under your coffee cup that catches drops of water or heat
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to keep your table clean and safe from marks or rings
- ✓Sounds like "COAST-er" → imagine something that lets your drink "coast" (slide) safely on the table without slipping or damaging it
- ✓Think of a roller coaster ride: a fast, exciting ride that goes up and down on a track, giving a fun thrill
- ✓NOT like "plate" (used for food), a coaster is much smaller and only for cups or glasses
- ✓NOT like "table" (big surface), a coaster is a small helper on the table
- ✓NOT like "ride" in general, a roller coaster is a special fast ride with hills and turns
- ✓NOT like "slide" (smooth, simple), a roller coaster is fast and has sharp movements
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Drink mat: a small flat object for cups (Use in British English or more formal contexts)
- •Roller coaster: the full name for the amusement park ride (Use when you want to be clear about the ride)
- •Tray: a flat object to carry many cups (Use when you carry drinks, not just protect a table)
- •Placemat: bigger mat under plates or cups (Use when covering more table area)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "coast" + "-er" (suffix that often means "one that does something" or "thing related to")
- •Etymology: "Coast" means the edge of the land by the sea; "coaster" originally meant a ship that moves along the coast
- •Historical development: The word "coaster" started meaning a ship near coast, then used for objects that slide or move smoothly, and later for cup protectors and rides
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for cup protectors and for the fast amusement park ride called "roller coaster"
- •Interesting fact: The word "coaster" connects movement along a surface or track, whether a ship, a drink sliding on a table, or a fast ride on rails
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of "coasting" (moving smoothly) connect the two different meanings of coaster?
•Can you think of other words that have very different meanings but share a connection like "coaster"?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Please put your glass on the coaster so the ___ won’t get wet or damaged.
2.The roller coaster moves very ___ along the track, giving a thrilling ride.
3.Unlike a placemat, a coaster is much ___ and only fits under one cup or glass.
4.When the water spills, the coaster ___ the table from getting rings.
5.We waited in line because the coaster was very ___ and popular at the park.
6.A coaster is different from a tray because it doesn’t ___ drinks, it just holds one.
7.The word coaster comes from "coast," which means ___, showing how things move smoothly along a surface.