steamroller
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
steam·roll·er
(stēm′rō′lər)n.
1.
a. A steam-driven machine equipped with a heavy roller for smoothing road surfaces.
b. A similar machine with an internal-combustion engine.
2. A ruthless or irresistible force or power.
v. also steam·roll (-rōl′) steam·roll·ered, steam·roll·er·ing, steam·roll·ers also steam·rolled or steam·roll·ing or steam·rolls
v.tr.
1. To smooth or level (a road) with a steamroller.
2. To overwhelm or suppress ruthlessly; crush.
v.intr.
To move or proceed with overwhelming or crushing force.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
steamroller
(ˈstiːmˌrəʊlə) orsteam roller
n
1. (Automotive Engineering)
a. a steam-powered vehicle with heavy rollers at the front and rear used for compressing road surfaces during road-making
b. another word for roadroller
2.
a. an overpowering force or a person with such force that overcomes all opposition
b. (as modifier): steamroller tactics.
vb
(tr) to crush (opposition, etc) by overpowering force
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
steam•roll•er
(ˈstimˌroʊ lər)n.
1. a heavy steam-powered vehicle having a roller for crushing, compacting, or leveling materials used for a road or the like.
2. (not in technical use) any similar vehicle with a roller.
3. an overpowering force, esp. a ruthless one.
v.t. 4. to crush or flatten with a steamroller.
5. to overcome with superior force.
6. to bring about the adoption of by overwhelming pressure: to steamroller the resolution through.
v.i. 7. to proceed with implacable force.
adj. 8. ruthlessly overpowering.
[1865–70]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
steamroller
Past participle: steamrollered
Gerund: steamrollering
| Imperative |
|---|
| steamroller |
| steamroller |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  steamroller - a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way |
| 2. |  steamroller - vehicle equipped with heavy wide smooth rollers for compacting roads and pavementsvehicle - a conveyance that transports people or objects | |
| Verb | 1. | steamroller - bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure; "The Senator steamrollered the bill to defeat" steamroll, steamroller - overwhelm by using great force; "steamroller the opposition" steamroll, steamroller - proceed with great force; "The new teacher tends to steamroller" |
| 2. | steamroller - proceed with great force; "The new teacher tends to steamroller" go, proceed, move - follow a procedure or take a course; "We should go farther in this matter"; "She went through a lot of trouble"; "go about the world in a certain manner"; "Messages must go through diplomatic channels" steamroll, steamroller - bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure; "The Senator steamrollered the bill to defeat" | |
| 3. | steamroller - crush with a steamroller as if to level; "steamroller the road" | |
| 4. | steamroller - overwhelm by using great force; "steamroller the opposition" steamroll, steamroller - bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure; "The Senator steamrollered the bill to defeat" | |
| 5. | steamroller - make level or flat with a steamroller; "steamroll the roads" flatten - make flat or flatter; "flatten a road"; "flatten your stomach with these exercises" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
steamroller
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
höyryjyräjyrätä
passer au laminoir
gőzhengerúthenger
parni valjar
steamroller
[ˈstiːmˌrəʊləʳ]A. N → apisonadora f
B. VT
1. (lit) → allanar con apisonadora
2. (fig) → aplastar, arrollar
to steamroller a bill through Parliament → hacer aprobar un proyecto de ley por mayoría aplastante or arrolladora
to steamroller a bill through Parliament → hacer aprobar un proyecto de ley por mayoría aplastante or arrolladora
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995