roller coaster
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)
- anything characterized by abrupt and extreme changes (especially up and down)“the economy has been on a roller coaster all year”Type of turbulence, upheaval
- elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp curves and steep inclines)Synonyms: big dipperchute-the-chuteType of elevated railway, rideKinds hypercoaster
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
An amusement railroad of varying design in which open cars coast by gravity over a long winding track in a closed circuit, with steep pitches and ascents, and in some cases loops in which the cars are briefly upside-down; typically, the cars are pulled by a chain device to the top of the first peak, after which gravity and momentum provide the only propulsive forces. In some cases, the cars are suspended from a monorail rather than resting on a track, and such cars may be made to swing outward at an angle near to the horizontal. It is a popular amusement at many amusement parks, but is sufficiently frightening to some people that they refuse to ride in one.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC, 1913 supplement