Definition

1. Noun:

   • A cylindrical object or something formed into a cylinder: A "roll" is something that has been wound or folded into a cylindrical shape.
   • A list of names: A "roll" can be an official list or register of people's names.
   • A small, rounded loaf of bread: A "roll" is a small, individual portion of bread, often served with a meal.
   • A continuous, deep, reverberating sound: A "roll" is a prolonged, resonant sound, like that of thunder or a drum.
   • A swaying or rocking motion: A "roll" describes a side-to-side movement, such as that of a ship on waves.
   • The act of turning over and over: A "roll" is the action of moving by repeatedly turning over.

2. Verb:

   • To move by turning over and over: To "roll" is to move along a surface by revolving or rotating.
   • To form into a cylindrical shape: To "roll" something is to wrap, wind, or fold it into a tube-like form.
   • To make a continuous, deep sound: To "roll" is to emit a long, low, vibrating sound.
   • To move on wheels or as if on wheels: To "roll" is to move smoothly and continuously, often on a wheeled vehicle.
   • To sway from side to side: To "roll" is to rock or tilt alternately from one side to the other.
   • To pronounce a sound, especially 'r', with a trill: To "roll" a sound is to pronounce it with a rapid vibration of the tongue.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She bought a roll of film for her old camera.
  • The teacher called the roll to see who was absent.
  • Would you like a buttered roll with your soup?
  • We heard the distant roll of thunder.

• Verb:

  • The ball rolled under the sofa.
  • He knows how to roll a perfect cigarette.
  • The drums began to roll as the ceremony started.
  • The car rolled slowly down the driveway.
  • The ship rolled heavily in the storm.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on a roll": To be experiencing a period of continued success or good luck.

  • After winning three games in a row, the team is really on a roll.

• "To roll with the punches": To adapt to difficulties or setbacks without being badly affected.

  • In this business, you have to learn to roll with the punches.

• "Roll call": The act of reading a list of names to determine who is present.

  • The meeting will start after roll call.

Variants and Related Words

• Roller (n): A cylinder used for flattening, crushing, or moving things (e.g., a paint roller, a steamroller).
• Rolling (adj): Having long, gentle slopes (e.g., rolling hills); continuously happening (e.g., rolling news coverage).
• Enroll (v): To officially register or enter one's name on a list.
• Payroll (n): A list of a company's employees and the wages they are to be paid.

Synonyms

• Noun (Cylinder): Cylinder, scroll, coil.
• Verb (Move by turning): Turn, revolve, rotate.
• Verb (Flatten): Flatten, press, smooth.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Roll back: To reduce (a price, tax, etc.) to a previous level.

  • The government promised to roll back the new taxes.

• Roll in: To arrive in large amounts or numbers.

  • Donations began to roll in after the appeal.

• Roll out: To officially introduce or launch a new product or service.

  • The company will roll out its new software next month.

• Roll over: To turn onto one's side or back; to reinvest or renew a financial agreement.

  • The dog rolled over onto its back.
  • He decided to roll over his investment for another year.

Related Idioms

• "Let's roll!": An expression used to tell people it is time to start doing something or to leave.

  • The bus is here. Okay, everyone, let's roll!

• "Rock and roll": A genre of popular music; used informally to mean something exciting or dynamic.

  • This party is ready to rock and roll!

• "Roll up one's sleeves": To prepare to work hard.

  • We have a big job ahead, so let's roll up our sleeves and get started.

Noun

1. the act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling)
2. a flight maneuver; aircraft rotates about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude
3. walking with a swaying gait
4. the act of throwing dice
5. anything rolled up in cylindrical form
6. a document that can be rolled up (as for storage)
7. the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously
8. a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
9. small rounded bread either plain or sweet
10. a roll of currency notes (often taken as the resources of a person or business etc.)
    • he shot his roll on a bob-tailed nag
11. a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
12. photographic film rolled up inside a container to protect it from light
13. a long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore
14. a list of names
    • his name was struck off the rolls
15. rotary motion of an object around its own axis
    • wheels in axial rotation

Verb

1. show certain properties when being rolled
   • The carpet rolls unevenly
   • dried-out tobacco rolls badly
2. take the shape of a roll or cylinder
   • the carpet rolled out
   • Yarn rolls well
3. boil vigorously
   • The liquid was seething
   • The water rolled
4. pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/
   • She rolls her r's
5. cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis
   • She rolled the ball
   • They rolled their eyes at his words
6. move, rock, or sway from side to side
   • The ship rolled on the heavy seas
7. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
   • The gypsies roamed the woods
   • roving vagabonds
   • the wandering Jew
   • The cattle roam across the prairie
   • the laborers drift from one town to the next
   • They rolled from town to town
8. move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
   • The curtains undulated
   • the waves rolled towards the beach
9. sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity
10. execute a roll, in tumbling
    • The gymnasts rolled and jumped
11. shape by rolling
    • roll a cigarette
12. begin operating or running
    • The cameras were rolling
    • The presses are already rolling
13. arrange or or coil around
    • roll your hair around your finger
    • Twine the thread around the spool
    • She wrapped her arms around the child
14. emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound
    • The thunder rolled
    • rolling drums
15. flatten or spread with a roller
    • roll out the paper
16. occur in soft rounded shapes
    • The hills rolled past
17. move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle
    • The President's convoy rolled past the crowds
18. move by turning over or rotating
    • The child rolled down the hill
    • turn over on your left side