Meaning of roll In English

• 0 to (cause something to) move somewhere by turning over and over or from side to side:

  • The vase rolled off the edge of the table and smashed.

  • The dog rolled over onto its back.

  • I rolled the wheel along the side of the road back to the car.

  • A tear rolled down his cheek.

  • A wave of cigarette smoke rolled towards me.

  • The piano's on wheels, so we can roll it into the room.

  • Just as the television cameras started rolling, it began to pour down with rain.

  • When he suggested they should buy a new car, she rolled her eyes in disbelief.

• 1 to (cause something to) turn over onto itself to form the shape of a ball or a tube:

  • He rolled the clay into a ball in his hands.

  • As I got closer, the hedgehog rolled itself (up) into a ball.

  • We rolled back the carpet to see the floorboards.

• 2 to make something smooth and flat:

  • [ + obj + adj ] She borrowed a garden roller to roll the grass flat.

  • When you have rolled (out) the pastry, place it in a pie dish.

• 3 to make a continuous, repeated, deep sound:

  • The drums rolled as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.

  • When you speak Spanish you roll your r's.

• 4 a piece of film, paper, or cloth that is rolled into the shape of a tube:

  • a roll of carpet

  • a toilet roll (= a roll of toilet paper)

  • The dog had rolls of fat along its neck.

• 5 a small round loaf of bread for one person:

  • Would you like a roll and butter with your soup?

  • UK I bought a cheese/ham/tuna roll (= a sandwich made with a roll) for lunch.

• 6 an official list of names:

  • Is your name on the electoral roll (= the list of people who can vote)?

  • The teacher called the roll to see if any students were absent.

• 7 an act of rolling on the ground:

  • The dog went for a roll in the grass.

  • I wouldn't sacrifice my marriage for a roll in the hay with a waitress.

• 8 a continuous repeated deep sound:

  • a drum roll

  • a deafening roll of thunder

• 9 to move in a direction by turning over and over or by traveling on wheels, or to cause something to move in this way:

  • [ I ] The coin rolled off the table.

  • [ T ] I rolled the spare tire around to the side of the car.

  • [ I ] Tears rolled down his cheeks.

  • Bob rolled over (= turned his body while lying down) onto his stomach.

• 10 to form something soft into a rounded shape:

  • He rolled the clay into a ball.

  • [ M ] She rolled up her pants so they wouldn’t get wet.

• 11 to make a continuous repeated sound:

  • [ I ] Thunder rolled in the distance.

• 12 an official list of names:

  • a roll of eligible voters

• 13 a small loaf of bread

• 14 the movement of something in a direction by turning over and over or by traveling on wheels:

  • [ C ] You have to allow for the roll of the ball when it lands after you hit it.

• 15 a continuous repeated sound:

  • a drum roll

• 16 a long piece of something that bends, formed into a cylinder:

  • a roll of film/ tape/aluminum foil

  • rolls of fat

• 17 to be produced in a factory:

  • The new vehicles roll off the assembly line in August.

  • The company's first locally made vehicle will roll off the production line within a year.