coaster

IPA/ˈkəʊstə(r)/
KK[kˈostɚ]IPA/ˈkəʊstər/

coaster — noun

  • coastersingular
  • coastersplural

1. a small disc-shaped piece of cork, wood, ceramic, or other material placed under

1.nounB1
Definition

a small disc-shaped piece of cork, wood, ceramic, or other material placed under a glass or cup to prevent heat, cold, or liquid from harming the surface of a table or desk.

Example

Lucia placed her coffee cup on a cork coaster to protect the wooden table.

collocation: cork coaster / bamboo coaster / ceramic coaster

The waiter brought coasters to the table before serving the hot drinks.

Common collocations
  • cork coaster
  • bamboo coaster
  • ceramic coaster
  • set of coasters
  • put a coaster under
  • drink coaster
  • beer coaster
  • decorative coaster
Synonyms
  • mat

    much more general; can refer to doormats, placemats, or yoga mats — not specific to drink protection

  • trivet

    designed for hot pots and pans from the oven, not typically for cold drinks

  • beer mat

    British term for a coaster, especially used in pubs for beer glasses

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

The material of a coaster is often mentioned — common types include cork, bamboo, ceramic, and stone coasters.

Common Mistakes

I put a mat under my coffee cup.
I put a coaster under my coffee cup.
A mat is a general floor or table covering; a coaster is specifically for holding drinks.

2. a ship that travels along a country's coastline, carrying goods or passengers be

2.nounB2
Definition

a ship that travels along a country's coastline, carrying goods or passengers between ports that lie on the same coast instead of crossing oceans.

Example

A small coaster delivered fresh fruit from one port town to the next along the coast.

collocation: coastal shipping / coaster route

Diego worked on a wooden coaster that sailed between villages carrying fish and supplies.

Common collocations
  • wooden coaster
  • coastal trade
  • port to port
  • coaster route
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • ocean liner

    a large ship that crosses oceans rather than travelling along a single coast

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Common Mistakes

The tanker crossed the ocean to deliver oil.' (when describing coastal shipping)
The coaster carried goods between ports along the coast.
A coaster sails near the coast, not across oceans.

3. a person who lives in a region next to the sea, especially someone whose daily l

3.nounB2
Definition

a person who lives in a region next to the sea, especially someone whose daily life or identity is closely tied to the coast.

Example

As a lifelong coaster, Amara knew every hidden beach along the shoreline.

collocation: lifelong coaster

The Watanabe family have been coasters for three generations and run a small seafood restaurant.

Common collocations
  • lifelong coaster
  • generations of coasters
  • coastal community
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • inlander

    someone who lives far from the coast, in the interior of a country

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Common Mistakes

The waiter is a coaster who brings drinks.' (confusing with sense 1)
The waiter comes from a fishing village; he is a coaster.
A coaster as a person means a coastal resident, not someone who uses coasters.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A coaster is a small mat placed under a single drink glass to protect furniture from moisture or heat. A mat is a much broader term that covers floor mats, yoga mats, and doormats — it is not specific to table protection. A trivet is designed to hold hot dishes or pans straight from the oven, whereas a coaster typically handles glasses of cold or warm drinks. A doily is a small decorative lace or paper mat placed under plates, vases, or cakes, and is used for presentation rather than protection. A placemat is a large mat covering the area in front of a single dining seat to protect the table during a meal. For example, you rest your coffee mug on a coaster, set a hot casserole dish on a trivet, and put silverware on a placemat.

mat ↗trivet ↗doilyplacemat ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'coaster' comes from the verb 'coast', meaning to travel along a shore, which itself traces back through Middle English 'coste' to Old French 'coste' (side, coast) and ultimately Latin 'costa' (rib, side). The suffix '-er' marks a person or thing that does something. The earliest use in the 16th century referred to a ship or person involved in coastal trade. By the 19th century the term was applied to small trays or stands on a table, and later specifically to the protective mats we now place under glasses.