- 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.
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A cat uses whiskers to determine if a space is too small to squeeze through. The whiskers act as antennae, helping the animal to judge the precise width of any passage.