Definition of 'roll'

Word Frequency

roll

(roʊl )

Word forms: rolls, rolling, rolled

1. transitive verb/intransitive verb

When something rolls or when you roll it, it moves along a surface, turning over many times.

The ball rolled into the net.

Synonyms: turn, wheel, spin, reel More Synonyms of roll

2. intransitive verb

If you roll somewhere, you move on a surface while lying down, turning your body over and over, so that you are sometimes on your back, sometimes on your side, and sometimes on your front.

When I was a little kid I rolled down a hill and broke my leg.

3. intransitive verb

When vehicles roll along, they move along slowly.

The truck quietly rolled forward and demolished all the old wooden fencing.

Synonyms: trundle, go, move, pass More Synonyms of roll

4. intransitive verb

If a machine rolls, it is operating.

He slipped and fell on the step as the cameras rolled.

5. intransitive verb

If drops of liquid roll down a surface, they move quickly down it.

She looked at Ginny and tears rolled down her cheeks.

6. transitive verb

If you roll something flexible into a cylinder or a ball, you form it into a cylinder or a ball by wrapping it several times around itself or by shaping it between your hands.

He took off his sweater, rolled it into a pillow, and lay down on the grass.

Synonyms: wind, bind, wrap, twist More Synonyms of roll

7. countable noun

A roll of paper, plastic, cloth, or wire is a long piece of it that has been wrapped many times around itself or around a tube.

The photographers had already shot a dozen rolls of film.

Synonyms: reel, ball, bobbin, cylinder More Synonyms of roll

8. transitive verb

If you roll up something such as a car window or a blind, you cause it to move upward by turning a handle. If you roll it down, you cause it to move downward by turning a handle.

In mid-afternoon, shopkeepers began to roll down their shutters.

9. transitive verb/intransitive verb

If you roll your eyes or if your eyes roll, they move around and upward. People sometimes roll their eyes when they are frightened, bored, or annoyed.

[written]

People may roll their eyes and talk about overprotective parents.

10. countable noun

A roll is a small piece of bread that is round or long and is made to be eaten by one person. Rolls can be eaten plain, with butter, or with a filling.

He sipped at his coffee and spread butter and marmalade on a roll.

11. countable noun

A roll of drums is a long, low, fairly loud sound made by drums.

As the town clock struck two, they heard the roll of drums.

Synonyms: rumble, boom, drumming, roar More Synonyms of roll

12. countable noun

A roll is an official list of people's names.

Pro-democracy activists say a new electoral roll should be drawn up.

13. See also rolling, rock and roll

14.

See rolled into one

15. heads will roll

16. gesture and body language

Phrasal verbs:

See roll back

See roll in

See roll out

See roll over

See roll up

More Synonyms of roll

Video: pronunciation of
roll

roll in American English

(roʊl )

verb intransitive

to move by turning on an axis or over and over

to rotate about its axis lengthwise, as a spacecraft in flight

to move or be moved on wheels

to travel in a wheeled vehicle

to travel about; wander

to pass; elapse

the years rolled by

to flow, as water, in a full swelling or sweeping motion

the waves rolling against the boat

to be carried in a flow

to extend in gentle swells or undulations

to make a loud, continuous rising and falling sound

thunder rolls

to rise and fall in a full, mellow cadence

said of sound, speech, etc.

to trill or warble

10.

to form a ball or cylinder when turned over and over on itself

said as of cloth or yarn

11.

to turn in a circular motion or move back and forth

with eyes rolling

12.

to rock from side to side

the ship pitched and rolled

13.

to walk by swaying

14.

to become flattened or spread under a roller

15.

to make progress; advance

start rolling

16.

to start operating

the presses rolled

17.

to take part in a bowling game

18. Informal

to have plenty; abound (in)

rolling in wealth

19. US, American Football

to move laterally

said of the passer: in full roll out

verb transitive

20.

to move by turning on an axis or over and over

to roll a hoop

21.

to move or send on wheels or rollers

22.

to cause to start operating

23.

to move or send in a full, sweeping motion

24.

to beat (a drum) with blows in rapid, light succession

25.

to utter with full, flowing sound

to roll one's words

26.

to pronounce or say with a trill

to roll one's r's

27.

to give a swaying motion to

waves rolling the ship along

28.

to move gently around and around or from side to side

to roll one's eyes

29.

to make into a ball or cylinder by winding over and over itself or something else

to roll a cigarette

30.

to wrap or enfold, as in a covering

to roll a child in a blanket

31.

to make flat, smooth, or spread out by using a roller, rolling pin, etc.

32. US

to throw (the dice) as in the game of craps

to make (a specified cast) with dice

she rolled a four

33. US, Slang

to rob (a drunken or sleeping person)

34. Bowling

to throw (a ball)

to make (a certain play or score)

to roll a strike

to take part in (a game or games)

to roll three games

35. Printing

to spread ink on (type, a form, etc.) with a roller

noun

36.

the act or an instance of rolling

37.

a paper, parchment, etc. that is rolled up; scroll

something that is, or looks as if, rolled up

38.

a register; catalog

39.

a list of names for checking attendance; muster roll

40.

a measure of something rolled into a cylinder

a roll of wallpaper

41.

a cylindrical mass of something

a sausage roll

42.

any of various foods that are rolled during preparation

, as

any small portion of bread, variously shaped

thin cake covered with fruit, nuts, etc. and rolled

a jelly roll

beef, veal, etc. rolled and cooked

43.

a roller (in various senses)

44.

a swaying or rolling motion

45.

a rapid succession of light blows on a drum

46.

a loud, reverberating sound; peal, as of thunder

47.

a full, cadenced flow of words

48.

a trill or warble

49.

a slight swell or rise on the surface of something, as land

50. US, Slang

money; esp., a wad of paper money

51. Aeronautics

a maneuver in which an airplane in flight performs one complete rotation around its longitudinal axis

52. Bookbinding

a revolving tool used in making an impression or pattern

SIMILAR WORDS: list

Idioms:

Word origin

ME rollen < OFr roller < VL *rotulare < L rotula, rotulus, dim. of rota, wheel < IE *roto-, var. of base *ret(h)-, to run, roll > OIr rethim, (I) run, OHG rad, wheel

Word Frequency

roll in British English

(rəʊl )

verb

to move or cause to move along by turning over and over

to move or cause to move along on wheels or rollers

to flow or cause to flow onwards in an undulating movement

billows of smoke rolled over the ground

4. (intransitive)

to extend in undulations

the hills roll down to the sea

5. (intransitive; usually foll by around)

to move or occur in cycles

6. (intransitive)

(of a planet, the moon, etc) to revolve in an orbit

7. (intr; foll by on, by, etc)

to pass or elapse

the years roll by

to rotate or cause to rotate wholly or partially

to roll one's eyes

to curl, cause to curl, or admit of being curled, so as to form a ball, tube, or cylinder; coil

10.

to make or form by shaping into a ball, tube, or cylinder

to roll a cigarette

11. (often foll by out)

to spread or cause to spread out flat or smooth under or as if under a roller

to roll the lawn

to roll pastry

12.

to emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound

the thunder rolled continuously

13.

to trill or cause to be trilled

to roll one's r's

14. (intransitive)

(of a vessel, aircraft, rocket, etc) to turn from side to side around the longitudinal axis

Compare pitch1 (sense 11), yaw (sense 1)

15.

to cause (an aircraft) to execute a roll or (of an aircraft) to execute a roll

16. (intransitive)

to walk with a swaying gait, as when drunk; sway

17. (intransitive; often foll by over)

(of an animal, esp a dog) to lie on its back and wriggle while kicking its legs in the air, without moving along

18. (intransitive)

to wallow or envelop oneself (in)

19. (transitive)

to apply ink to (type, etc) with a roller or rollers

20.

to throw (dice)

21. (intransitive)

to operate or begin to operate

the presses rolled

22. (intransitive) informal

to make progress; move or go ahead

let the good times roll

23. (transitive) informal, mainly US and New Zealand

to rob (a helpless person, such as someone drunk or asleep)

24. (transitive) slang

to have sexual intercourse or foreplay with (a person)

25. start the ball rolling

noun

26.

the act or an instance of rolling

27.

anything rolled up in a cylindrical form

a roll of newspaper

28.

an official list or register, esp of names

an electoral roll

29.

a rounded mass

rolls of flesh

30.

a strip of material, esp leather, fitted with pockets or pouches for holding tools, toilet articles, needles and thread, etc

31.

a cylinder used to flatten something; roller

32.

a small loaf of bread for one person: eaten plain, with butter, or as a light meal when filled with meat, cheese, etc

33.

a flat pastry or cake rolled up with a meat ( sausage roll), jam (jam roll), or other filling

roll in Hospitality

(roʊl)

Word forms: (regular plural) rolls

noun

(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, breakfast)

A roll is a small piece of bread that is round or long and is made to be eaten by one person. Rolls can be eaten plain, with butter, or with a filling.

The waitress came in with bread rolls and coffee.

He sipped at his coffee and spread butter on a roll.

Can I have another basket of rolls and some jelly please?

Examples of 'roll' in a sentence
roll

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Served in buttered cob rolls with extra chutney and sliced cucumber.This was the last roll of the dice.The video went live and the money rolled in.The year has been a coaching and public relations triumph rolled into one.The draw has been kind and he can roll back the years.The earliest pounds you invest will have the longest to roll up into big nest eggs.That sounds like the roll call from a bad night in Homs.The technology is there to do mobile payments, now it’s about getting it rolled out commercially.The scheme will be rolled out across England from December.It makes rolls with yummy cheese already in the middle.