roll

I UK [rəʊl] / US [roʊl] verb
Word forms "roll":
present tense I/you/we/they roll he/she/it rolls present participle rolling past tense rolled past participle rolled
***

1)

a) [intransitive] to move forward while turning over and over

The pencil went rolling across the floor.

As children, we loved to roll down that hill.

b) [transitive] to make someone or something move forward by turning them over and over

Matthew rolled the tyre across the garage.

2)

a) [intransitive] to move on wheels

The car rolled to a stop at the side of the road.

roll into:

Tanks began rolling into the city at dawn.

b) [transitive] to make something move on wheels

3) [intransitive/transitive] to move from side to side, or to make something do this

The piglets were rolling in the mud.

The stormy sea rolled and tossed the ship.

4)

a) roll or roll over

[intransitive] to change the position of your body when you are lying down roll onto:

He rolled onto his back and looked up at me.

b) [transitive] to change the position of someone or something so that they face a different direction

5)

a) [transitive] if a drop of liquid rolls, it moves across a surface without stopping

Raindrops rolled down the window.

b) if you roll dice in a game, you throw them onto or across a surface

6) roll or roll up

[transitive] to fold something or wrap it around itself so that it forms a tube or a ball roll something into something:

Take a piece of the mixture and roll it into a ball.

I always roll my clothes when I pack.

7) [intransitive] to produce a continuous low sound

The first rumbles of thunder rolled across the sky.

8) [intransitive] if a machine such as a camera rolls, it works

Although the interview had ended, the cameras were still rolling.

9) roll or roll out

[transitive] to make a substance flat by pushing something heavy across it

Roll the dough very thinly.

•

(all) rolled into one — if someone is several things rolled into one, they are all of those things at the same time

She's a writer, actress, and producer all rolled into one.

be rolling in money/it — informal to have a lot of money

Don't worry about him, he's rolling in it.

let's roll/let's get rolling — spoken used for saying you want to start doing something

Come on, it's noon, let's roll.

- ready to roll

- roll on

- roll your eyes

- roll your r's

Phrasal verbs:

- roll back

- roll down

- roll in

- roll out

- roll over

- roll up

See:

aisle, ball I, punch II, stone I

II UK [rəʊl] / US [roʊl] noun [countable]
Word forms "roll":
singular roll plural rolls
**

1) a long piece of film, paper, carpet etc, rolled into the shape of a tube

roll of:

We used ten rolls of wallpaper.

The professionals are used to moving heavy rolls of carpet around.

2)

a) bread in the form of a small round or long shape

a buttered roll

b) a bread roll filled with meat, cheese etc

a ham/cheese/salad roll

••

See:

sausage roll

3)

a) [usually singular] the action of turning over or of rolling from side to side

The constant roll of the ship made her feel ill.

b) the action of throwing dice

He was willing to bet his entire fortune on a roll of the dice.

4) an official list of names, especially one that is used in a school

See:

roll of honour

5) a continuous low sound made by drums or thunder

6) a thick layer of skin or fat, usually around someone's neck or waist

•

- be on a roll