■ verb
1》 move by turning over and over on an axis: the car ~ed down into a ditch.
↘turn over to face a different direction.
↘(of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) sway on an axis parallel to the direction of motion.
↘ N. Amer. informal overturn (a vehicle).
↘throw (a die or dice).
2》 (with reference to a vehicle or other wheeled object) move along.
↘(of a drop of liquid) flow.
↘(of waves, smoke, cloud, or fog) move or flow forward with an undulating motion.
↘[usu. as adjective ~ing ] (of land) extend in gentle undulations.
↘(of credits for a film or television programme) be displayed as if moving on a ~er up the screen.
3》 (often ~ something up ) turn (something flexible) over and over on itself to form a cylindrical or spherical shape.
↘curl up tightly.
4》 (with reference to a machine, device, or system) begin operating.
↘(of time) elapse steadily: the years ~ed by.
↘[as adjective ~ing ] steady and continuous: a ~ing programme of reforms.
5》 flatten (something) by passing a ~er over it or by passing it between ~ers.
6》 (of a loud, deep sound) reverberate.
↘pronounce (a consonant, typically an r ) with a trill.
↘(of words) flow mellifluously.
7》 informal rob (a drunk or sleeping person).
■ noun
1》 a cylinder formed by ~ing flexible material.
↘a cylindrical mass or a number of items arranged in a cylindrical shape.
↘an item of food made by wrapping a flat sheet of pastry, cake, meat, or fish round a filling.
↘ N. Amer. & Austral. a quantity of banknotes ~ed together.
2》 a ~ing movement.
↘a gymnastic exercise in which the body is ~ed into a tucked position and turned in a forward or backward circle.
3》 a prolonged, deep, reverberating sound.
↘ Music one of the basic patterns of drumming, consisting of a sustained, rapid alternation of single or double strokes of each stick.
4》 a very small loaf of bread.
5》 a ~er used to shape metal in a ~ing mill.
6》 an official list or register of names.
↘the total numbers on such a list.
↘a document, typically an official record, historically kept in sc~ form.
Phrases
a ~ in the hay (or the sack ) informal an act of sexual intercourse.
be ~ing in it (or money ) informal be very rich.
on a ~ informal experiencing a prolonged spell of success or good luck.
~ of honour a list of people whose deeds are honoured, or who have died in battle.
~ up one's sleeves prepare to fight or work.
~ with the punches
1》 (of a boxer) move one's body away from an opponent's blows so as to lessen the impact.
2》 adapt oneself to adverse circumstances.
strike someone off the ~ Brit. debar a solicitor from practising as a penalty for dishonesty or other misconduct.
Phrasal verbs
~ something back reverse the progress or reduce the importance of something.
~ in informal
1》 be received in large amounts.
2》 arrive in a casual way in spite of being late.
~ on Brit. informal used to indicate that one wants a time or event to come quickly.
~ something out officially launch a new product.
~ something over Finance contrive or extend a particular financial arrangement.
~ up informal arrive.
~ something up Military drive the flank of an enemy line back and round so that the line is shortened or surrounded.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e (n.), ~er (v.), from L. rotulus 'a ~', var. of rotula 'little wheel', dimin. of rota .