/ rəʊl; NAmE roʊl/ noun , verb
■ noun
OF PAPER / CLOTH, etc.
1.
[ C ] roll (of sth) a long piece of paper, cloth, film, etc. that has been wrapped around itself or a tube several times so that it forms the shape of a tube :
a roll of film
Wallpaper is sold in rolls.
—see also toilet roll —picture at packaging
OF SWEETS / CANDY
2.
[ C ] roll (of sth) ( NAmE ) a paper tube wrapped around sweets / candy, etc. :
a roll of mints
BREAD
3.
(also ˌbread ˈroll ) [ C ] a small loaf of bread for one person :
Soup and a roll: £1.50
a chicken / cheese, etc. roll (= filled with chicken / cheese, etc.)
—compare bun
—see also sausage roll , spring roll , Swiss roll
OF BODY
4.
[ sing. ] an act of rolling the body over and over :
The kittens were enjoying a roll in the sunshine.
5.
[ C ] a physical exercise in which you roll your body on the ground, moving your back and legs over your head :
a forward / backward roll
OF SHIP / PLANE
6.
[ U ] the act of moving from side to side so that one side is higher than the other
—compare pitch noun (8)
OF FAT
7.
[ C ] an area of too much fat on your body, especially around your waist :
Rolls of fat hung over his belt.
LIST OF NAMES
8.
[ C ] an official list of names :
the electoral roll (= a list of all the people who can vote in an election)
The chairman called / took the roll (= called out the names on a list to check that everyone was present) .
—see also payroll
SOUND
9.
[ C ] roll (of sth) a deep continuous sound :
the distant roll of thunder
a drum roll
OF DICE
10.
[ C ] an act of rolling a dice :
The order of play is decided by the roll of a dice.
PHONETICS
11.
= trill (3)
•
IDIOMS
- be on a roll
- a roll in the hay
■ verb
TURN OVER
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to turn over and over and move in a particular direction; to make a round object do this :
[ v ]
The ball rolled down the hill.
We watched the waves rolling onto the beach.
[ vn ]
Delivery men were rolling barrels across the yard.
2.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to turn over and over or round and round while remaining in the same place; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
a dog rolling in the mud
[ vn ]
He was rolling a pencil between his fingers.
[ v , vn ]
Her eyes rolled.
She rolled her eyes upwards (= to show surprise or disapproval) .
3.
roll (sb/sth) over (onto sth) | roll (sb/sth) (over) onto sth to turn over to face a different direction; to make sb/sth do this :
[ v ]
She rolled over to let the sun brown her back.
He rolled onto his back.
[ vn ]
I rolled the baby over onto its stomach.
( NAmE )
to roll a dice / die (= in a game)
She rolled her car in a 100 mph crash.
MOVE (AS IF) ON WHEELS
4.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move smoothly (on wheels or as if on wheels); to make sth do this :
[ v ]
The car began to roll back down the hill.
The traffic rolled slowly forwards.
Mist was rolling in from the sea.
[ vn ]
He rolled the trolley across the room.
MAKE BALL / TUBE
5.
roll (sth) (up) (into sth) to make sth/yourself into the shape of a ball or tube :
[ vn ]
I rolled the string into a ball.
We rolled up the carpet.
a rolled-up newspaper
I always roll my own (= make my own cigarettes) .
[ v ]
The hedgehog rolled up into a ball.
—compare unroll
FOLD CLOTHING
6.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] roll sth (up) to fold the edge of a piece of clothing, etc. over and over on itself to make it shorter :
Roll up your sleeves.
She rolled her jeans to her knees.
—picture at braces
MAKE STH FLAT
7.
[ vn ] to make sth flat by pushing sth heavy over it :
Roll the pastry on a floured surface.
WRAP UP
8.
[ vn ] roll sb/sth / yourself (up) in sth to wrap or cover sb/sth/yourself in sth :
Roll the meat in the breadcrumbs.
He rolled himself up in the blanket.
OF SHIP / PLANE / WALK
9.
to move or make sth move from side to side :
[ v ]
He walked with a rolling gait.
The ship was rolling heavily to and fro.
[also vn ]
—compare pitch verb (6)
MAKE SOUND
10.
to make a long continuous sound :
[ v ]
rolling drums
Thunder rolled.
[ vn ]
to roll your r's (= by letting your tongue vibrate with each 'r' sound)
MACHINE
11.
when a machine rolls or sb rolls it, it operates :
[ v ]
They had to repeat the scene because the cameras weren't rolling.
[ vn ]
Roll the cameras!
•
IDIOMS
- be rolling in money / it
- let's roll
- rolled into one
- rolling in the aisles
- a rolling stone gathers no moss
- roll on ... !
- roll up your sleeves
- roll with the punches
—more at ball noun , grave (I) noun , head noun , ready adjective , tongue noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- roll around
- roll sth back
- roll sth down
- roll in
- roll sth out
- roll over
- roll sb over
- roll sth over
- roll up
- roll sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French rolle (noun), roller (verb), from Latin rotulus a roll, variant of rotula little wheel, diminutive of rota .