A man was driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back seat.
The police stop him and say that he can’t drive around with the penguins in the car and should take them to the zoo.
The man agrees and drives off.
The next day the same man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back and again he is stopped by the same police officer who says, "Hey! I thought I told you to take those to the zoo."
The man replies, "I did. Today I’m taking them to the movies."
- n. (also rôle) 1 actor's part in a play, film, etc.
- person's or thing's function. [french: related to *roll]
ROLL
of honour n. List of those honoured, esp. The dead in war.
- —v. - (cause to) move or go in some direction by turning on an axis (ball rolled under the table; rolled the barrel into the cellar).
- a make cylindrical or spherical by revolving between two surfaces or over on itself (rolled a newspaper). B make thus (rolled a cigarette). C gather into a mass or shape (rolled the dough into a ball; rolled himself into a ball).
- (often foll. By along, by, etc.) (cause to) move, advance, or be conveyed on or (of time etc.) As if on wheels etc. (bus rolled past; rolled the tea trolley; years rolled by; rolled by in his car).
- flatten or form by passing a roller etc. Over or by passing between rollers (roll the lawn; roll pastry).
- rotate (his eyes rolled; he rolled his eyes).
- a wallow (dog rolled in the dust). B (of a horse etc.) Lie on its back and kick about.
- (of a moving ship, aircraft, vehicle, or person) sway to and fro sideways or walk unsteadily (rolled out of the pub).
- a undulate (rolling hills; rolling mist). B carry or propel with undulations (river rolls its waters to the sea).
- (cause to) start functioning or moving (cameras rolled). 10 sound or utter with vibrations or a trill (thunder rolled; rolls his rs). —n. - rolling motion or gait; undulation (roll of the hills).
- a spell of rolling (roll in the mud).
ROMP
—v. - play roughly and energetically.
- (foll. By along, past, etc.) Colloq. Proceed without effort. —n. Spell of romping. romp in (or home) colloq. Win easily. [perhaps from *ramp]
ROOD
n. - crucifix, esp. One raised on a rood-screen.
- quarter of an acre. [old english]
ROOF
of the mouth n. Palate.
- —n. (pl. -s) 1 a upper covering of a building. B top of a covered vehicle. C top inner surface of an oven, refrigerator, etc.
- overhead rock in a cave or mine etc. —v. - (often foll. By in, over) cover with or as with a roof.
- be the roof of. go through the roof colloq. (of prices etc.) Rise dramatically. Hit (or go through) the roof colloq. Become very angry. [old english]
ROOK
—n. Black bird of the crow family nesting in colonies. —v. - colloq. Charge (a customer) extortionately.
- win money at cards etc., esp. By swindling. [old english]
- n. Chess piece with a battlement-shaped top. [french from arabic]
ROOM
service n. Provision of food etc. In a hotel bedroom.
- —n. - space for, or occupied by, something; capacity (takes up too much room; room for improvement).
- a part of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling. B (in pl.) Apartments or lodgings. C people in a room (room fell silent). —v. Us have room(s); lodge, board. [old english]
ROOT
—n. - a part of a plant normally below the ground, conveying nourishment from the soil. B (in pl.) Branches or fibres of this. C small plant with a root for transplanting.
- a plant with an edible root. B such a root.
- (in pl.) Emotional attachment or family ties to a place or community.
- a embedded part of a hair, tooth, nail, etc. B part of a thing attaching it to a greater whole.
- (often attrib.) Basic cause, source, nature, or origin (root of all evil; roots in the distant past; root cause; the root of things).
- a number that when multiplied by itself a usu. Specified number of times gives a specified number or quantity (cube root of eight is two). B square root. C value of an unknown quantity satisfying a given equation.
- core of a word, without prefixes, suffixes, etc. —v. - (cause to) take root; grow roots (root them firmly).
- (esp. As rooted adj.) Fix firmly; establish (rooted objection to; reaction rooted in fear).
- (usu. Foll.
ROPE
—n. - a stout cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, wire, etc. B piece of this.
- (foll. By of) quantity of onions, pearls, etc. Strung together.
- (prec. By the) a halter for hanging a person. B execution by hanging. —v. (-ping) 1 fasten, secure, or catch with rope.
- (usu. Foll. By off, in) enclose with rope.
- mountaineering connect with or attach to a rope. know (or learn or show) the ropes know (or learn or show) how to do a thing properly. Rope in persuade to take part. Rope into persuade to take part in (roped into washing up). [old english]
ROPY
adj. (also ropey) (-ier, -iest) colloq. Poor in quality. ropiness n.
