Roll

/roʊl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A cylindrical object or shape.
I bought a roll of wrapping paper for the gift.
A small loaf of bread, typically round.
Would you like a roll with your soup?
A complete list or record of names.
The teacher took the roll at the beginning of class.
A rolling motion or movement.
The car made a roll down the hill.
verb
To move by turning over and over on an axis.
The dog loves to roll in the grass.
To cause to move in a circle or course.
She rolled the ball to her friend.
To make something into a rounded shape.
He rolled the dough into a ball before baking.
To turn over and over, especially in a tedious or gradual way.
The river rolled over the rocks as it flowed downhill.
To move with a succession of small, gentle movements.
The waves rolled gently onto the shore.

Etymology

Middle English: rol(en), of Germanic origin; related to the Dutch rollen and the German rollen.

Common Phrases and Expressions

roll with the punches
to adapt to difficulties and continue to succeed.
roll out the red carpet
to give someone a special welcome.
roll in the deep
to experience deep emotions, often associated with loss.

Related Words

roller
a device used to roll something, such as paint or dough.
rollover
an act of rolling over, often used in financial contexts.
scroll
to move displayed text or images up or down on a screen.

Slang Meanings

to smoke marijuana in a rolled joint
Let's roll a joint before the party.
to leave or depart quickly
It's getting late, we should roll.