# coaster

/ˈkoʊstɝ/ (US) · /kˈəʊstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coaster
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. mat for a drink

noun · CEFR B1

a small mat or piece of wood that you put under a glass or cup to protect the table.

For teachers: a small tray or mat, often made of cork, wood, or plastic, placed under a drinking vessel to protect the surface of a table from moisture or heat.

- Please use a coaster so you do not leave a ring on the wooden coffee table.
- The host provided marble coasters to ensure that the chilled cocktails did not leave condensation marks on the antique mahogany desk.

### 2. theme park ride

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short name for a roller coaster, which is a fast ride at an amusement park.

For teachers: a common clipping of 'roller coaster', referring to an elevated railway with steep inclines and sharp curves found in amusement parks.

- The new coaster at the theme park is the tallest and fastest in the country.
- Adrenaline seekers queued for hours to experience the park's newest coaster, which featured a record-breaking vertical drop and multiple inversions.

### 3. coastal ship

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a ship that carries goods between ports along the same coast.

For teachers: a merchant vessel designed for trading along a coast rather than making transoceanic voyages.

- The small coaster delivered coal to several towns along the northern shore.
- The harbour was crowded with small coasters and fishing boats, all seeking shelter from the gale-force winds predicted for the channel.

### 4. one who puts in little effort

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who does just enough work to get by without trying hard.

For teachers: an individual who exerts the minimum effort required to maintain their position or progress, effectively 'coasting' through tasks.

- He used to be a top student, but lately he has become a bit of a coaster.
- Management identified several coasters in the department who were relying on the momentum of the team rather than contributing to the new project.

### 5. failed CD or DVD

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a CD or DVD that did not record correctly and is now useless.

For teachers: a slang term for a recordable optical disc that has been rendered useless by a write error during the burning process.

- The power went out while I was burning the disc, so now it is just a coaster.
- Before high-speed internet became standard, a single buffer underrun could turn an expensive blank media disc into a shiny plastic coaster.

Usage: Usually refers to the physical disc being good for nothing but use as a drink coaster.

## Examples

- Please use a coaster so you don't mark the wooden table.
- She bought a set of marble coasters to match the new coffee table in the living room.
- While the primary function of a coaster is utilitarian, many people collect them as souvenirs from bars and restaurants they have visited during their travels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.