Roller
/ˈroʊlər/
nounA2
Definition
A roller is usually a round object or machine part that moves by turning over a surface. It is often used to press, smooth, or move things. The word can also mean a person or thing that rolls or moves by turning.
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See It in Action
A tool or machine part that rolls to smooth, press, or move something
- •The painter used a roller to cover the wall with paint.
- •The road construction crew operated a large roller to flatten the asphalt.
- •Use a dough roller to make the dough thin and even.
A person or thing that rolls
- •The skateboarder is a good roller who can move fast on wheels.
- •The toy car is a small roller that moves by turning its wheels.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "roller" like "wheel" (A1 word), but a roller usually presses down or smooths something while it turns
- ✓Picture a paint roller rolling paint on a wall, or a steamroller flattening a road surface
- ✓It's the feeling of something heavy and round moving slowly and making a surface even or smooth
- ✓Sounds like "roll-er" → imagine something that keeps rolling and turning over and over
- ✓Think of a rolling pin in the kitchen that flattens dough by rolling it
- ✓NOT like "wheel" (which mostly helps things move), "roller" often presses or smooths while moving
- ✓NOT like "ball" (round but moves by bouncing or rolling freely), a roller usually moves steadily and presses down
- ✓NOT like "machine" (general word), a roller is a specific part or tool that rolls and presses
Try Other Words
- •Cylinder: a round shape or object used for rolling or pressing (Use when emphasizing shape rather than function)
- •Roller tool: a tool with a rolling part used for painting or smoothing (Use in contexts about painting or surface work)
- •Steamroller: a large heavy machine used to flatten roads (Use when talking about big machines that press and roll)
- •Wheel: round part that turns to help movement (Use when the focus is on movement, not pressing)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "roll" + suffix "-er" (means "one who does" or "thing that does" the action)
- •Etymology: From the verb "roll," meaning to turn over and over, plus "-er" to show the tool or person doing the rolling
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to describe things that roll or help rolling actions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for tools like paint rollers, road rollers, and any object or person that rolls or causes rolling
Reflect & Connect
•How does the shape of a roller help it perform its function better than other tools?
•Can you think of different kinds of rollers you have seen or used in daily life?
Fill in the blanks
1.A paint roller is used to ___ paint evenly on walls and ceilings.
2.Road workers use a roller to ___ the surface so it becomes flat and smooth.
3.Unlike a wheel, a roller usually ___ down on a surface while moving.
4.A dough roller helps to ___ dough thin by rolling over it.
5.When a toy car moves, it acts as a small ___ that turns its wheels.
6.The heavy roller ___ slowly over the new road to press it down.
7.People who skate on wheels are often called ___ because they roll on the ground.