roll·er coast·er /ˈrolɚ/



 Roller coaster. 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.

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 roller coaster
      n 1: anything characterized by abrupt and extreme changes
           (especially up and down); "the economy has been on a
           roller coaster all year"
      2: elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp
         curves and steep inclines) [syn: big dipper, chute-the-chute]