roaster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal, depending on sense.
Quick answer
What does “roaster” mean?
A device or appliance used for roasting food, especially meat, by exposing it to dry heat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device or appliance used for roasting food, especially meat, by exposing it to dry heat.
1. A person or company that roasts something, especially coffee beans. 2. A young chicken suitable for roasting. 3. (Informal) A harsh or humorous critical attack on a person, especially in a comedy performance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all senses. The 'young chicken' sense is slightly more archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral for appliance/coffee senses. The informal 'comedy' sense carries connotations of humor, ridicule, or public teasing.
Frequency
Appliance sense is most frequent. 'Coffee roaster' is common in commercial contexts. Informal 'comedy roast' sense is increasing in frequency due to media.
Grammar
How to Use “roaster” in a Sentence
roaster of [product]roaster for [food item]roaster at [event]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “roaster” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a company or machine for roasting coffee beans, e.g., 'We sourced beans from a local roaster.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in historical texts about cooking or agriculture.
Everyday
Primarily for a kitchen appliance, e.g., 'I'll put the chicken in the roaster.'
Technical
Specific types of industrial roasting machinery in food processing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “roaster”
- Using 'roaster' to mean a person who is roasting (sunbathing).
- Confusing 'roaster' (appliance) with 'roasting pan' (the dish placed inside an oven).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A roaster is typically a specific countertop appliance or a large pan with a lid designed for roasting. An oven is a larger, built-in kitchen appliance used for multiple cooking methods.
Yes. It can refer to a person whose job is to roast coffee beans or, informally, to a comedian who delivers a 'roast' (a humorous critique) of someone.
It is a performer who humorously insults and teases a guest of honour at a planned event called a 'roast'. The tone is meant to be funny, not genuinely malicious.
It is now quite dated. You are more likely to see 'roasting chicken' or simply a chicken described by weight. The term persists in some historical or very traditional cooking contexts.
A device or appliance used for roasting food, especially meat, by exposing it to dry heat.
Roaster is usually neutral to informal, depending on sense. in register.
Roaster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrəʊ.stər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈroʊ.stɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be in the roaster (informal: be in trouble or subject to criticism)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TOASTER for bread, ROASTER for larger meats. Both end in '-ster' and apply heat.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM IS COOKING (e.g., 'He got roasted at the comedy club').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'roaster' LEAST likely to be used?