roll
roll Lexical Profile
roll Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A cylinder formed by winding flexible material, such as paper, cloth, film, or tape, around a tube or upon itself.
"The architect spread a large roll of blueprints across the conference table."
A small, individual portion of bread dough shaped into a ball or oblong form and baked, often served with meals or used to make a sandwich.
"She served the hot vegetable soup with a basket of warm dinner rolls and butter."
An official list or register of names, such as students in a class, members of a legislative body, or voters in a district.
"The teacher called the roll at the beginning of the morning session to check attendance."
An act or instance of turning over and over, rotating on an axis, or swaying from side to side.
"With a quick roll of the dice, he won the final round of the board game."
A prolonged, deep, reverberating sound, such as that produced by thunder or a rapid succession of beats on a drum.
"A distant roll of thunder echoed across the valley just before the rain began."
• verb
To move or cause to move along a surface by turning over and over or revolving on an axis or wheels.
"The wooden barrel began to roll slowly down the paved incline."
To wrap, wind, or fold a flexible material around itself or around a central core into the shape of a cylinder or ball.
"Please roll up the sleeping bag tightly so it fits inside its carrying case."
To flatten, spread, or make smooth by applying pressure with a cylindrical roller or rolling pin.
"The baker used a heavy wooden pin to roll the pastry dough into a thin sheet."
To sway or rock from side to side along a longitudinal axis (especially of a ship at sea or an aircraft in flight).
"The fishing vessel began to pitch and roll heavily as the ocean swells increased."
To emit or resound with a deep, continuous, reverberating sound.
"Thunder continued to roll across the darkened sky throughout the evening."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with its homophone 'role', which refers to a character played by an actor or a function assumed by a person (e.g., 'play a role'), whereas 'roll' refers to a revolving motion, a cylinder, or an official list of names (e.g., 'call the roll', 'on a roll').
• Rhymes for roll
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'rolle' (a parchment scroll or cylinder), which derives from Latin 'rotula' (a little wheel), the diminutive of 'rota' (wheel).