Library / English Dictionary

ROLL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling)

Synonyms:

bowl; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

Holonyms ("roll" is a part of...):

bowling (the playing of a game of tenpins or duckpins etc)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A flight maneuver; aircraft rotates about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

airplane maneuver; flight maneuver (a maneuver executed by an aircraft)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

barrel roll (a roll in which the plane follows a spiral course)

snap roll (a fast roll)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Walking with a swaying gait

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

gait (a person's manner of walking)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of throwing dice

Synonyms:

cast; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

throw (casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

natural ((craps) a first roll of 7 or 11 that immediately wins the stake)

Holonyms ("roll" is a part of...):

craps (a gambling game played with two dice; a first throw of 7 or 11 wins and a first throw of 2, 3, or 12 loses and a first throw of any other number must be repeated to win before a 7 is thrown, which loses the bet and the dice)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Anything rolled up in cylindrical form

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

cylinder (a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

bolt (a roll of cloth or wallpaper of a definite length)

rouleau (a roll of coins wrapped in paper)

rouleau (a roll of ribbon)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Photographic film rolled up inside a container to protect it from light

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

film; photographic film (photographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsion; used to make negatives or transparencies)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A document that can be rolled up (as for storage)

Synonyms:

roll; scroll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

holograph; manuscript (handwritten book or document)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

Megillah ((Judaism) the scroll of parchment that contains the biblical story of Esther; traditionally read in synagogues to celebrate Purim)

Torah ((Judaism) the scroll of parchment on which the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture is written; is used in a synagogue during services)

Instance hyponyms:

Dead Sea scrolls ((Old Testament) a collection of written scrolls (containing nearly all of the Old Testament) found in a cave near the Dead Sea in the late 1940s)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A list of names

Example:

his name was struck off the rolls

Synonyms:

roll; roster

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

list; listing (a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

waiting list (a roster of those waiting to obtain something)

rota (a roster of names showing the order in which people should perform certain duties)

church roll (a list of the members of church)

muster roll (a list of names of officers and men in a military unit or ship's company)

death-roll (a list of persons killed in a war or other disaster)

batting order; card; lineup ((baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore

Synonyms:

roll; roller; rolling wave

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

moving ridge; wave (one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water))

Sense 10

Meaning:

The sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously

Synonyms:

drum roll; paradiddle; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

roll (emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)

Synonyms:

peal; pealing; roll; rolling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

roll (emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Rotary motion of an object around its own axis

Example:

wheels in axial rotation

Synonyms:

axial motion; axial rotation; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

gyration; revolution; rotation (a single complete turn (axial or orbital))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

wallow (an indolent or clumsy rolling about)

Derivation:

roll (execute a roll, in tumbling)

roll (shape by rolling)

roll (arrange or or coil around)

roll (move by turning over or rotating)

roll (cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis)

roll (move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Small rounded bread either plain or sweet

Synonyms:

bun; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

bread; breadstuff; staff of life (food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

bagel; beigel ((Yiddish) glazed yeast-raised doughnut-shaped roll with hard crust)

coffee roll; sweet roll (any of numerous yeast-raised sweet rolls with our without raisins or nuts or spices or a glaze)

onion roll (yeast-raised roll flavored with onion)

clover-leaf roll (yeast-raised dinner roll made by baking three small balls of dough in each cup of a muffin pan)

Parker House roll (yeast-raised dinner roll made by folding a disk of dough before baking)

kaiser roll (rounded raised poppy-seed roll made of a square piece of dough by folding the corners in to the center)

soft roll (yeast-raised roll with a soft crust)

hard roll; Vienna roll (yeast-raised roll with a hard crust)

crescent roll; croissant (very rich flaky crescent-shaped roll)

brioche (a light roll rich with eggs and butter and somewhat sweet)

hamburger bun; hamburger roll (a round bun shaped to hold a hamburger patty)

frankfurter bun; hotdog bun (a long bun shaped to hold a frankfurter)

tea bread (sweetened buns to be eaten with tea)

Sense 14

Meaning:

A roll of currency notes (often taken as the resources of a person or business etc.)

Example:

he shot his roll on a bob-tailed nag

Synonyms:

bankroll; roll

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

cash in hand; finances; funds; monetary resource; pecuniary resource (assets in the form of money)

Domain category:

business; business enterprise; commercial enterprise (the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects)

Sense 15

Meaning:

A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)

Synonyms:

coil; curl; curlicue; gyre; ringlet; roll; scroll; whorl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("roll" is a kind of...):

round shape (a shape that is curved and without sharp angles)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roll"):

corolla ((botany) the whorl of petals of a flower that collectively form an inner floral envelope or layer of the perianth)

calyx ((botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green)

verticil (a whorl of leaves growing around a stem)

Derivation:

roll (occur in soft rounded shapes)

roll (flatten or spread with a roller)

roll (shape by rolling)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Execute a roll, in tumbling

Example:

The gymnasts rolled and jumped

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

tumble (do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Show certain properties when being rolled

Example:

dried-out tobacco rolls badly

Synonyms:

roll; roll up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

roll up; wrap up (form a cylinder by rolling)

furl; roll up (form into a cylinder by rolling)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 3

Meaning:

Take the shape of a roll or cylinder

Example:

Yarn rolls well

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 4

Meaning:

Shape by rolling

Example:

roll a cigarette

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

form; shape (give shape or form to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

roll (a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Boil vigorously

Example:

The water rolled

Synonyms:

roll; seethe

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

boil; churn; moil; roil (be agitated)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The water rolls

Sense 6

Meaning:

Pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/

Example:

She rolls her r's

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

articulate; enounce; enunciate; pronounce; say; sound out (speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Flatten or spread with a roller

Example:

roll out the paper

Synonyms:

roll; roll out

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

flatten (make flat or flatter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

cog (roll steel ingots)

mill (roll out (metal) with a rolling machine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

roll (a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals))

Sense 8

Meaning:

Arrange or or coil around

Example:

She wrapped her arms around the child

Synonyms:

roll; twine; wind; wrap

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

coil; curl; loop (wind around something in coils or loops)

clew; clue (roll into a ball)

ball (form into a ball by winding or rolling)

reel (wind onto or off a reel)

spool (wind onto a spool or a reel)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence examples:

They roll the wire around the stick

The wires roll around the stick

Also:

roll up (form a cylinder by rolling)

Derivation:

roller (a mechanical device consisting of a cylindrical tube around which the hair is wound to curl it)

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Begin operating or running

Example:

The presses are already rolling

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

function; go; operate; run; work (perform as expected when applied)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 10

Meaning:

Move by turning over or rotating

Example:

turn over on your left side

Synonyms:

roll; turn over

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Verb group:

revolve; roll (cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

rim (roll around the rim of)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sentence example:

These balls roll easily

Also:

roll down (gather into a huge mass and roll down a mountain, of snow)

roll over (make a rolling motion or turn)

Derivation:

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

roller (a cylinder that revolves)

roller (a small wheel without spokes (as on a roller skate))

Sense 11

Meaning:

Cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis

Example:

They rolled their eyes at his words

Synonyms:

revolve; roll

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Verb group:

roll; turn over (move by turning over or rotating)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

transit (revolve (the telescope of a surveying transit) about its horizontal transverse axis in order to reverse its direction)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Move, rock, or sway from side to side

Example:

The ship rolled on the heavy seas

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

rock; shake; sway (move back and forth or sideways)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 13

Meaning:

Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

Example:

They rolled from town to town

Synonyms:

cast; drift; ramble; range; roam; roll; rove; stray; swan; tramp; vagabond; wander

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

drift; err; stray (wander from a direct course or at random)

wander (go via an indirect route or at no set pace)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

maunder (wander aimlessly)

gad; gallivant; jazz around (wander aimlessly in search of pleasure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 14

Meaning:

Move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle

Example:

The President's convoy rolled past the crowds

Synonyms:

roll; wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

bowl (roll (a ball))

troll (cause to move round and round)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

These cars won't roll

Derivation:

roll (rotary motion of an object around its own axis)

rolling (propelling something on wheels)

Sense 15

Meaning:

Move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion

Example:

the waves rolled towards the beach

Synonyms:

flap; roll; undulate; wave

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "roll"):

luff (flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

roller (a long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore)

Sense 16

Meaning:

Emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound

Example:

rolling drums

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence examples:

Cars roll in the streets

The streets roll with cars

Derivation:

roll (the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously)

roll; rolling (a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells))

Sense 17

Meaning:

Sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity

Synonyms:

hustle; pluck; roll

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "roll" is one way to...):

rip; rip off; steal (take without the owner's consent)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sense 18

Meaning:

Occur in soft rounded shapes

Example:

The hills rolled past

Synonyms:

roll; undulate

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

roll (a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals))

Credits

 Context examples: 

Van Helsing's face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her in a hot sheet to dry her he said to me:—The first gain is ours!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He did not move for a long while; then he rolled over on his side, wound his watch, and lay there until morning.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It was an Indian cigar, of the variety which are rolled in Rotterdam.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The next instant Holmes and the seaman were rolling on the ground together.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Recently rolled into the Office of Communications.

(Office of Liaison Activities, NCI Thesaurus)

A pin that is formed as a rolled sheet and acts to provide a retaining force on the part through which it is inserted.

(Motor Roll Pin Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

The act of inhaling smoke from dried tobacco that is rolled up and called a cigar.

(Cigar Smoking, NCI Thesaurus)

They rolled on the ground together.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He rolled his eyes round heavily, but he was too far gone to express surprise.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Had I nothing about me I could offer in exchange for one of these rolls?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)