[roast] vb [ME rosten, fr. OF rostir, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG rosten to roast] vt (13c) 1 a: to cook by exposing to dry heat (as in an oven or before a fire) or by surrounding with hot embers, sand, or stones "~ a potato in ashes" b: to dry and parch by exposure to heat "~ coffee"
2: to heat (inorganic material) with access of air and without fusing to effect change (as expulsion of volatile matter, oxidation, or removal of sulfur from sulfide ores)
3: to heat to excess "~ed by the summer sun"
4: to subject to severe criticism or ridicule "films have been ~ed by most critics --H. J. Seldes"
5: to honor (a person) at a roast ~ vi 1: to cook food by heat
2: to undergo being roasted
[2]roast n (14c) 1: a piece of meat suitable for roasting
2: a gathering at which food is roasted before an open fire or in hot ashes or sand
3: an act or process of roasting; specif: severe banter or criticism
4: a banquet honoring a person (as a celebrity) who is subjected to humorous tongue-in-cheek ridicule by friends [3]roast adj (14c): that has been roasted "~ beef"