roast

1 of 3

verb

roasted; roasting; roasts

transitive verb

1
a
: to cook by exposing to dry heat (as in an oven or before a fire) or by surrounding with hot embers, sand, or stones
roast a potato in ashes
b
: to process a raw coffee bean by drying, heating to temperatures typically between 380-450° F (190-230° C) for seven to twenty minutes, and quickly cooling to room temperature to achieve a desired level of roast (see roast entry 2 sense 3)
roasting coffee brings out flavor, aroma, and character; it also evaporates moisture.Lisa Kolb Ruland
2
: to heat to excess
roasted by the summer sun
3
: to subject to severe criticism or ridicule
The film was roasted by critics and isn't fondly remembered …John Fox
4
: to honor (a person) at a roast (see roast entry 2 sense 5)
5
metallurgy : to heat (inorganic material) in air and without fusing (as to oxidize sulfides or eliminate volatile matter)
Zinc is refined from its ore by roasting finely crushed zinc blende … in a furnace.Daniel A. Brandt

intransitive verb

1
: to cook food by heat
Once you've tossed the potatoes in your chosen fat, you're ready to roast.Fionnula Hainey
2
: to undergo the process of being roasted
left the potatoes in the oven to roast
often used figuratively
We roasted in the stuffy classroom.

roast

2 of 3

noun

plural roasts
1
: a piece of meat suitable for roasting
Put the roast in the oven.
see also pot roast
2
: a gathering at which food is roasted before an open fire or in hot ashes or sand
was invited to a pig roast
3
: the distinctive quality or character of a coffee bean that typically includes its darkness, aroma, and flavor and is determined by the degree of roasting (see roast entry 1 sense 1b)
The difference in coffee roasts is in their levels of oil, caffeine, and acidity.Clark Nowlin
see also dark roast, light roast, medium roast
4
: an act or instance of severe banter or criticism
… did not hold back in his roast of Washington politics …, saving jabs for both parties.Kaanita Iyer
5
: a banquet honoring a person who is subjected to humorous tongue-in-cheek ridicule by friends
Tennis ace Boris Becker wasn't on the dais at the North Miami celebrity roast of aging bad boy Ilie Nastase, so he could observe the rites with a certain detachment.Tim Allis

roast

3 of 3

adjective

: that has been roasted
roast beef

Examples of roast in a Sentence

Verb The chicken is roasting in the oven. We roasted the peanuts over the fire. The peanuts roasted over the fire. We were roasting in the hot sun. The movie is being roasted by the critics. Noun She made a roast for dinner. We're having pork roast for dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
For instance, Matt Damon – with whom Kimmel has had a comedic feud for years – will very likely be roasted onstage. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The 6-inch torch provides a delicate flame that’s the perfect centerpiece for an outdoor dinner party or just to roast s’mores. Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Vines in her backyard in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood are fruiting with hundreds of tomatoes that are blended for fresh salsas and an array of peppers that will be roasted and preserved for later use. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 During summer our brother, Charlie, an avid fisherman, would occasionally catch enough bass for mom to stuff and roast. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024 All kinds of beans, from white to black, will take on a crispy texture from roasting at high temps. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024 What about roasting, or boiling, or poaching, or braising? Benjamin Dubow, Longreads, 20 Feb. 2024 In the mouth voluptuous waves of black fruits, red cherries, black licorice and even roast chestnuts. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Rotisserie chickens are seasoned, brined and flawlessly roasted, so the meat is always moist and flavorful (and stays moist in the soup). Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
What Makes The Best Cuban Sandwich The Meat Columbia’s current version is based on the sandwich popularized over a century ago and features salami, ham, and roast pork. Andrew Barrett Schrader, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 The couple’s young daughter did her homework near the counter while Isaac and I sampled wild leeks prepared three different ways, mashed pumpkin, and a delectable roast mackerel. Helen Schulman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 So well made, this is appealing now (especially with roast lamb), but will improve and drink well over the next 10-12 years. Tom Hyland, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 See the stats:Is Travis Kelce better with Taylor Swift at games? Jason Kelce pokes fun at Travis' outfit Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce also joined on the roast of his brother's look. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Proceeds from the roast will go towards building the Simon L. Leis, Jr., Fitness & Wellness Center on the campus of Madi’s House. The Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2024 From one-pot meals to savory roasts, the nifty device can handle just about anything thrown its way. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 This is just one of many Partners coffee roasts that are on sale for Presidents' Day, but this is my most recent favorite. Jaina Grey, WIRED, 17 Feb. 2024 This is a great partner for casual roasts, grilled meats or pre-meal snacks. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There will be roast duck with flaky scallion tortillas in the style of fajitas and an onsite smoker turning out Chinese sticky ribs. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2023 Thick slices of roast paan form a hearty base for a fuss-free sandwich eaten on the go. Vidya Balachander, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2023 The Menu: Starters included Lambay Island crab cake and asparagus, while Biden was treated to duck fat fondant potato, rainbow carrots, pea and mint puree, sherry vinegar lamb jus, roast saddle of lamb and confit lamb shoulder as main courses. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2023 My mom made roast beef hash with hers. Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Aug. 2022 Tallying nearly 35 million TikTok followers since joining the platform right before the pandemic hit, Ramsay uses his account to both hilariously roast TikTokers' culinary disasters and tap into viral food trends. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2022 The options are egg salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, ham and Swiss, turkey club, Italian and roast beef. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 27 Jan. 2022 Christmas specials to include roast goose shanks, as well as the full regular menu. Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2021 The 10 smart Programs are roast, stew, bake, steam, slow cook, sear/sauté, rice, yogurt, ferment and warm. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 11 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rosten, from Anglo-French rostir, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rōsten to roast

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of roast was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near roast

Cite this Entry

“Roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roast. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

roast

1 of 3 verb
1
: to cook with dry heat (as in an oven)
2
: to be or make very hot
3
: to criticize severely in either a serious or joking way

roast

2 of 3 noun
1
: a piece of meat roasted or suitable for roasting
2
: an outing at which food is roasted
3
: severe criticism or kidding

roast

3 of 3 adjective
: cooked by roasting
roast beef
roast pork

More from Merriam-Webster on roast

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