Definitions for the word "roll" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. n.
To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface; as, to roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as, to roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap; -- often with up; as, to roll up a parcel.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. n.
To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; -- often with forth, or out; as, to roll forth some one's praises; to roll out sentences.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. n.
To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers; as, to roll a field; to roll paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. n.
To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. v. i.
To move, as a curved object may, along a surface by rotation without sliding; to revolve upon an axis; to turn over and over; as, a ball or wheel rolls on the earth; a body rolls on an inclined plane.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. i.
To move on wheels; as, the carriage rolls along the street.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v. i.
To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball; as, the cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. v. i.
To fall or tumble; -- with over; as, a stream rolls over a precipice.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. v. i.
To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution; as, the rolling year; ages roll away.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v. i.
To turn; to move circularly.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. v. i.
To move, as waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. v. i.
To incline first to one side, then to the other; to rock; as, there is a great difference in ships about rolling; in a general semse, to be tossed about.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. v. i.
To turn over, or from side to side, while lying down; to wallow; as, a horse rolls.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. v. i.
To spread under a roller or rolling-pin; as, the paste rolls well.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. v. i.
To beat a drum with strokes so rapid that they can scarcely be distinguished by the ear.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. v. i.
To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise; as, the thunder rolls.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. v.
The act of rolling, or state of being rolled; as, the roll of a ball; the roll of waves.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. v.
That which rolls; a roller.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. v.
A heavy cylinder used to break clods.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. v.
One of a set of revolving cylinders, or rollers, between which metal is pressed, formed, or smoothed, as in a rolling mill; as, to pass rails through the rolls.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
27. v.
That which is rolled up; as, a roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
28. v.
A document written on a piece of parchment, paper, or other materials which may be rolled up; a scroll.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
29. v.
Hence, an official or public document; a register; a record; also, a catalogue; a list.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
30. v.
A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form; as, a roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
31. v.
A cylindrical twist of tobacco.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
32. v.
A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
33. v.
The oscillating movement of a vessel from side to side, in sea way, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
34. v.
A heavy, reverberatory sound; as, the roll of cannon, or of thunder.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
35. v.
The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
36. v.
Part; office; duty; role.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
37. v.
1 (cause to) move or go in some direction by turning on an axis (ball rolled under the table; rolled the barrel into the cellar). 2 a make cylindrical or spherical by revolving between two surfaces or over on itself (rolled a newspaper). B make thus (rolled a cigarette). C gather into a mass or shape (rolled the dough into a ball; rolled himself into a ball). 3 (often foll. By along, by, etc.) (cause to) move, advance, or be conveyed on or (of time etc.) As if on wheels etc. (bus rolled past; rolled the tea trolley; years rolled by; rolled by in his car). 4 flatten or form by passing a roller etc. Over or by passing between rollers (roll the lawn; roll pastry). 5 rotate (his eyes rolled; he rolled his eyes). 6 a wallow (dog rolled in the dust). B (of a horse etc.) Lie on its back and kick about. 7 (of a moving ship, aircraft, vehicle, or person) sway to and fro sideways or walk unsteadily (rolled out of the pub). 8 a undulate (rolling hills; rolling mist). B carry or propel with undulations (river rolls its waters to the sea). 9 (cause to) start functioning or moving (cameras rolled). 10 sound or utter with vibrations or a trill (thunder rolled; rolls his rs). n. 1 rolling motion or gait; undulation (roll of the hills). 2 a spell of rolling (roll in the mud).
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
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Additional Info
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