[roll] n [ME rolle, fr. OF, fr. L rotulus, dim. of rota wheel; akin to OHG rad wheel, W rhod, Skt ratha wagon] (13c) 1 a (1): a written document that may be rolled up: scroll; specif: a document containing an official or formal record "the ~s of parliament" (2): a manuscript book b: a list of names or related items: catalog c: an official list: as (1): muster roll (2): a list of members of a school or class or of members of a legislative body
2: something that is rolled up into a cylinder or ball or rounded as if rolled: as a: a quantity (as of fabric or paper) rolled up to form a single package b: a hairdo in which some or all of the hair is rolled or curled up or under "a pageboy ~" c: any of various food preparations rolled up for cooking or serving; esp: a small piece of baked yeast dough d: a cylindrical twist of tobacco e: a flexible case (as of leather) in which articles may be rolled and fastened by straps or clasps f (1): paper money folded or rolled into a wad (2) slang: bankroll
3: something that performs a rolling action or movement: roller: as a: a wheel for making decorative lines on book covers; also: a design impressed by such a tool b: a typewriter platen
[2]roll vb [ME, fr. MF roller, fr. (assumed) VL rotulare, fr. L rotulus] vt (14c) 1 a: to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface b: to cause to revolve by turning over and over on or as if on an axis c: to cause to move in a circular manner d: to form into a mass by turning over and over e: to impel forward with an easy continuous motion
2. a: to put a wrapping around: enfold, envelop b: to wrap round on itself: shape into a ball or roll; also: to produce by such shaping "~ed his own cigarettes" 3 a: to press, spread, or level with a rol ler: make smooth, even, or compact "hulled and ~ed oats" b: to spread out: extend "~ out the red carpet"
4. a: to move on rollers or wheels b: to cause to begin operating or moving "~ the cameras"
5. a: to sound with a full reverberating tone "~ed out the words" b: to make a continuous beating sound upon: sound a roll upon "~ed their drums" c: to utter with a trill "~ed his r's" d: to play (a chord) in arpeggio style
6: to rob (a drunk, sleeping, or unconscious person) usu. by going through the pockets ~ vi 1 a: to move along a surface by rotation without sliding b (1): to turn over and over "the children ~ed in the grass" (2): to luxuriate in an abundant supply: wallow "fairly ~ing in money"
2. a: to move onward or around as if by completing a revolution: elapse, pass "the months ~ on" b: to shift the gaze continually "eyes ~ing in terror" c: to revolve on an axis
3: to move about: roam, wander
4. a: to go forward in an easy, gentle, or undulating manner "the waves ~ed in" b: to flow in a continuous stream: pour "money was ~ing in" c: to flow as part of a stream of words d: to have an undulating contour "~ing prairie" e: to lie extended: stretch
5. a: to travel in a vehicle b: to become carried on a stream c: to move on wheels
6. a: to make a deep reverberating sound "the thunder ~s" b: trill
7. a: to swing from side to side "the ship heaved and ~ed" b: to walk with a swinging gait: sway c: to move so as to lessen the impact of a blow--used with with "~ed with the punch"
8. a: to take the form of a cylinder or ball b: to respond to rolling in a specified way
9. a: to get under way: begin to move or operate b: to move forward : to shoot craps [3]roll n (1688) 1 a: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum b: a sonorous and often rhythmical flow of speech c: a heavy reverberatory sound "the ~ of cannon" d: a chord in arpeggio style e: a trill of some birds (as a canary)
2: a rolling movement or an action or process involving such movement "a ~ of the dice" "an airplane's takeoff ~": as a: a swaying movement of the body b: a side-to-side movement (as of a ship or train) c (1): a flight maneuver in which a complete revolution about the longitudinal axis of an airplane is made with the horizontal direction of flight being approximately maintained (2): the motion of an aircraft or spacecraft about its longitudinal axis d: somersault e: the movement of a curling stone after impact with another stone -- on a roll : in the midst of a series of successes: on a hot streak--sometimes used with a modifier "has been on a brilliant roll"