ROLLER COASTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does roller coaster mean? 

• ROLLER COASTER (noun)
  The noun ROLLER COASTER has 2 senses:

1. anything characterized by abrupt and extreme changes (especially up and down)

2. elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp curves and steep inclines)

  Familiarity information: ROLLER COASTER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ROLLER COASTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Anything characterized by abrupt and extreme changes (especially up and down)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

the economy has been on a roller coaster all year

Hypernyms ("roller coaster" is a kind of...):

Sturm und Drang; turbulence; upheaval (a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp curves and steep inclines)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

big dipper; chute-the-chute; roller coaster

Hypernyms ("roller coaster" is a kind of...):

el; elevated; elevated railroad; elevated railway; overhead railway (a railway that is powered by electricity and that runs on a track that is raised above the street level)

ride (a mechanical device that you ride for amusement or excitement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roller coaster"):

hypercoaster (a roller coaster that goes up 200 feet or higher and can catapult riders from 0 to 70 mph in 4 seconds by motors originally designed to launch rockets)