roll

Syllabification: (roll)

Pronunciation: /rōl/

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Definition of roll

verb

1move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis: [no object]:the car rolled down into a ditch [with object]:she rolled the ball across the floor
turn or cause to turn over to face a different direction: [no object]:she rolled onto her side [with object]:they rolled him over onto his back
[with object] turn (one’s eyes) upward, typically to show surprise or disapproval:Sarah rolled her eyes
[no object] (of a person or animal) lie down and turn over and over while remaining in the same place:the buffalo rolled in the dust
[no object] (of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) rock or oscillate around an axis parallel to the direction of motion:the ship pitched and rolled
[no object] move along or from side to side unsteadily or uncontrollably:they were rolling about with laughter
[with object] North American informal overturn (a vehicle):he rolled his Mercedes in a 100 mph crash
[with object] throw (a die or dice).
[with object] obtain (a particular score) by doing this:roll a 2, 3, or 12

2 [no object] (of a vehicle) move or run on wheels:the van was rolling along the highway
[with object] move or push (a wheeled object):Pat rolled the cart back and forth
(roll something up/down) make a car window or a window blind move up or down.
(of time) elapse steadily:the years rolled by
(of a drop of liquid) flow:huge tears rolled down her cheeks
(roll off) (of a product) issue from (an assembly line or machine):the first copies of the newspaper rolled off the presses
(of waves, smoke, cloud, or fog) move or flow forward with an undulating motion:the fog rolled across the fields
(of land) extend in gentle undulations.
(of credits for a movie or television program) be displayed as if moving on a roller up the screen.
(with reference to a machine, device, or system) operate or begin operating: [no object]:the cameras started to roll [with object]:roll the camera
[no object] informal start moving; take action: the coast’s clear—let’s roll
[no object] informal behave in a particular way:that’s just how I roll, guys—I’ll smile until I physically can’t

3 [with object] turn (something flexible) over and over on itself to form a cylinder, tube, or ball:she started to roll up her sleeping bag
make by forming material into a cylinder or ball: [with two objects]:Harry rolled himself a joint
[no object] (of a person or animal) curl up tightly:the shock made the armadillo roll into a ball

4 [with object] flatten or spread (something) by using a roller or by passing it between rollers:roll out the dough on a floured surface roll on a decorative paint finish

5 [no object] (of a loud, deep sound such as that of thunder or drums) reverberate:the first peals of thunder rolled across the sky
[with object] pronounce (a consonant, typically an r) with a trill:when he wanted to emphasize a point he rolled his rrrs
[with object] utter (a word or words) with a reverberating or vibratory effect:he rolled the word around his mouth
(of words) flow effortlessly or mellifluously:the names of his colleagues rolled off his lips

6 [with object] informal rob (someone, typically when they are intoxicated or asleep):if you don’t get drunk, you don’t get rolled

noun

1a cylinder formed by winding flexible material around a tube or by turning it over and over on itself without folding:a roll of carpet
a cylindrical mass of something or a number of items arranged in a cylindrical shape:a roll of mints
[with modifier] an item of food that is made by wrapping a flat sheet of pastry, cake, meat, or fish around a sweet or savory filling:salmon and rice rolls
North American & Australian money, typically a quantity of banknotes rolled together.
a roller for flattening something, especially one used to shape metal in a rolling mill.

2a movement in which someone or something turns or is turned over on itself:a roll of the dice the ponies completed two rolls before getting back on their feet
a gymnastic exercise in which the body is rolled into a tucked position and turned in a forward or backward circle:a forward roll
a swaying or oscillation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle around an axis parallel to the direction of motion:the car corners capably with a minimum of roll
undulation of the landscape:hidden by the roll of the land was a refinery

3a prolonged, deep, reverberating sound, typically made by thunder or a drum:thunder exploded, roll after roll
Music one of the basic patterns (rudiments) of drumming, consisting of a sustained, rapid alternation of single or double strokes of each stick.

4a very small loaf of bread, typically eaten with butter or a filling:a sausage roll

5an official list or register of names.
the total numbers on an official list of names:a review of secondary schools to assess the effects of falling rolls
a document, typically an official record, in scroll form.

Phrases

a roll in the hay (or the sack): informal an act of sexual intercourse.
be rolling (in money): informal be very rich.
on a roll: informal experiencing a prolonged spell of success or good luck:the organization is on a roll
rolled into one: (of characteristics drawn from different people or things) combined in one person or thing:banks are several businesses rolled into one
rolling in the aisles: informal (of an audience) laughing uncontrollably.
roll of honor: a list of people whose deeds or achievements are honored, or who have died in battle.
roll of the dice: see dice.
roll one's own: informal make one’s own cigarettes from loose tobacco.
roll up one's sleeves: prepare to fight or work.
roll with the punches: (of a boxer) move one’s body away from an opponent’s blows so as to lessen the impact.; adapt oneself to adverse circumstances.

Phrasal Verbs

roll something back: reverse the progress or reduce the power or importance of something:her bid to roll back state power
roll in: informal be received in large amounts:the money was rolling in; arrive at a place in a casual way, typically in spite of being late:Steve rolled in about lunchtime
roll something out: officially launch or unveil a new product or service:the firm rolled out its newest generation of supercomputers
roll something over: Finance contrive or extend a particular financial arrangement:this is not a good time for rolling over corporate debt; carry over prize money in a lottery from one draw to the next, especially because the jackpot has not been won.
roll up: informal arrive in a vehicle:we rolled up at the same time
roll something up: Military drive the flank of an enemy line back and around so that the line is shortened or surrounded.

Derivatives

rollable

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French rolle (noun), roller (verb), from Latin rotulus 'a roll', variant of rotula 'little wheel', diminutive of rota

roll in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of roll in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

roll

verb

noun

Phrases

a roll in the hay (or the sack)

be rolling (in money)

on a roll

rolled into one

rolling in the aisles

roll of honor

roll of the dice

roll one's own

roll up one's sleeves

roll with the punches

Phrasal Verbs

roll something back

roll in

roll something out

roll something over

roll up

roll something up

Derivatives

rollable

Origin:

roll in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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