roach

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural roach also roaches
1
: a silver-green European freshwater cyprinid fish (Rutilus rutilus)
also : any of various related fishes (such as some shiners)
2
: any of several American freshwater sunfishes (family Centrarchidae)

roach

2 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a curved cut in the edge of a sail to prevent chafing or to secure a better fit
2
: a roll of hair brushed straight back from the forehead or side of the head

roach

3 of 4

verb

roached; roaching; roaches

transitive verb

1
: to cut so that the remainder stands upright
roach a horse's mane
2
: to cause to arch
specifically : to brush (the hair) in a roach
often used with up

roach

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
2
: the butt of a marijuana cigarette

Examples of roach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Live roaches were found in the reach-in cooler and prepared food items weren’t dated. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 Four dead roaches under a prep table and one that died on top of a flour container. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 Local Mexican restaurant closed due to roaches Taqueria Tapaltos, 3435 El Camino Ave. Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025 In 2015, Texas A&M scientists found that implanting electrodes into a cockroach's ganglion (the neuron cluster that controls its front legs) was remarkably effective at successfully steering the roaches 60 percent of the time. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roach

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English roche, from Anglo-French roche, rosse

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

by shortening

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roach. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

roach

1 of 2 noun
plural roach also roaches
: any of various fishes including some sunfishes and shiners

roach

2 of 2 noun

Medical Definition

roach

noun

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