Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words
1

roach

noun \ ˈrōch \

Definition of roach

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)

Explore Merriam-Webster

courage
'Muskrat,' 'Helpmate,' and 6 More Folk Etymologies
one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
The Exceptions Quiz III
alt-59e8af1b31525
Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Origin and Etymology of roach

Middle English roche, from Anglo-French roche, rosse

2

roach

noun

Definition of roach

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

Origin and Etymology of roach

origin unknown

3

roach

verb

Definition of roach

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

First Known Use of roach

1803

4

roach

noun

Definition of roach

1 :cockroach
2 :the butt of a marijuana cigarette

Origin and Etymology of roach

by shortening

ROACH Defined for Kids

roach

noun \ ˈrōch \

Definition of roach for Students

:cockroach

Medical Dictionary

roach

noun \ ˈrōch \

medical Definition of roach

:cockroach

Learn More about roach

  1. See words that rhyme with roach Spanish Central: Translation of roach Nglish: Translation of roach for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about roach

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up roach? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

knee-jerk

play

readily predictable

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. imbroglio "a public scandal"

  2. spurious of a deceitful nature or quality

  3. righteous We provide an assortment of definitions

  4. Kafkaesque 'A nightmarish quality'

  5. mike "microphone"

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

  • one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
  • Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59e900afadac6
The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

alt-59e8c3440f453
I'll Have the Us(ual)

Shortening 'usual': easy to say, hard to spell

alt-59e77dc36c593
The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

From the front hallways to the back rooms

alt-59e673567065d
The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

Noah Webster first entered the term in 1840

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz
knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus
Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game