Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
roller bearing

roller bearing

1 5.5
A machine part with small round pieces that roll to let other parts move smoothly
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊlər ˈbɛrɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cojinete de rodillos
  • Many bicycles use roller bearings in their wheel hubs to ensure smooth rotation.
  • a tapered roller bearing
  • cylindrical roller bearings

Examples

  • Angular contact roller bearings deliver radial load ratings of 10,000 lb, suitable for applications where overhung loads are very high.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The housing for a roller bearing

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The extended ball-bearing contact provides higher load capacity than crossed-roller bearings do.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Centerless grinders have relied on hollow roller bearings since the 1970s.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Each model includes a precision headstock with a ground spindle rotating in preloaded, tapered roller bearings.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Stainless Steel Series split roller bearings may be used in applications such as flocculators, rotary aerators, conveyors, screens, rakes, and fans.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The high-tensile bronze worm gear and stainless-steel worm are supported by tapered roller bearings and seals to prevent loss of lubrication.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The engineer selected a sealed roller bearing to improve the efficiency of the machine.

  • The assembly line equipment was designed with high-quality roller bearings to minimize friction and enhance performance.

Synonyms

bearing
vsroller bearing
  • Specialized
20 6.4

A small part that helps a wheel or machine part turn smoothly

is a specific type that uses cylindrical or spherical elements between parts

How Strong

roller bearing
  • Specialized
1 5.5
ball bearing
  • Specialized
8 3.4
bearing
  • Specialized
20 6.4

Surface Forms

roller bearing singular
roller bearings plural

Morphology

roller + bearing

The meaning is directly compositional: a 'roller bearing' is a type of bearing that uses rollers to reduce friction, which follows directly from the meanings of 'roller' (a cylinder that rolls) and 'bearing' (a part enabling smooth rotation). This noun+noun naming pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Roller bearing is named for its two parts: the roller, the small rolling pieces, and the bearing, something that 'bears' or carries weight between moving parts. Picture many tiny rollers holding and turning so the surfaces do not rub; that's why it means a bearing that uses rollers to reduce rubbing and help smooth movement.