roof

 
Pronunciation: /ruːf/

noun (plural roofs)

  • 1the structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle: the rain woke him, hammering on the roof a thatched roof a car with a vinyl roof [as modifier]: roof timbers
  • the top inner surface of a covered area or space; the ceiling: the roof of the cave fell in
  • used to signify a house or other building, especially in the context of hospitality or shelter: helping those without a roof over their heads they slept under the same roof
  • 2the upper limit or level of prices or wages: starting salary £12,185, rising to a roof of £16,835

verb

[with object]
  • cover with a roof: the yard had been roughly roofed over with corrugated iron
  • function as the roof of: fan vaults roof these magnificent buildings

Phrases

go through the roof

informal
  • 1(of prices or figures) reach extreme or unexpected heights: rents have gone through the roof
  • 2 (also hit the roof) suddenly become very angry: when she surprised him in bed with another woman she hit the roof

raise the roof

see raise.

the roof of the world

the Himalayas.

Derivatives

roofless

adjective

Origin:

Old English hrōf, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse hróf 'boat shed', Dutch roef 'deckhouse'. English alone has the general sense 'covering of a house'; other Germanic languages use forms related to thatch

Spelling help

The most usual plural of roof is roofs, although rooves is sometimes used.