Definition of roll
(Entry 1 of 3)
b
: a list of names or related items : catalog
c
: an official list
the voter rolls
: such as
(1)
: muster roll
(2)
: a list of members of a school or class or of members of a legislative body
2
: something that is rolled up into a cylinder or ball or rounded as if rolled
rolls of fat
: such as
a
: a quantity (as of fabric or paper) rolled up to form a single package
b
: a hairdo in which some or all of the hair is rolled or curled up or under
c
: any of various food preparations rolled up for cooking or serving
cabbage rolls a sushi roll
especially
: a small piece of baked yeast dough
d
: a cylindrical twist of tobacco
e
: a roll of paper on which music for a player piano is recorded in perforations which actuate the keys
f
: a flexible case (as of leather) in which articles may be rolled and fastened by straps or clasps
jewelry roll
g(1)
: paper money folded or rolled into a wad
4
: a wheel for making decorative lines on book covers
also
: a design impressed by such a tool
roll
verb
rolled; rolling; rolls
Definition of roll (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface
b
: to cause to revolve by turning over and over on or as if on an axis
c
: to cause to move in a circular manner
they rolled their eyes at the absurdity
d
: to form into a mass by turning over and over
e
: to impel forward with an easy continuous motion
f
: to cause to move in a given direction by or as if by turning a crank
rolled down the window
b
: to wrap round on itself : shape into a ball or roll
rolled up the newspaper
also
: to produce by such shaping
rolled his own cigarettes
3
: to press, spread, or level with a roller : make smooth, even, or compact
hulled and rolled oats roll paint
—often used with out rolled out the dough
4a
: to move on rollers or wheels
rolled the patient into the operating room
b
: to cause to begin operating or moving
roll the cameras
5a
: to sound with a full reverberating tone
rolled out the words
b
: to make a continuous beating sound upon : sound a roll upon
rolled their drums
c
: to utter with a trill
rolled his r's
d
: to play (a chord) in arpeggio style
6
: to combine so as to comprise one entity
—usually used in the phrase rolled into one a shopping center, amusement park, and nightclub all rolled into one
7
: to rob (a drunk, sleeping, or unconscious person) usually by going through the pockets
broadly
: rob
8
: bowl sense 1
1a
: to move along a surface by rotation without sliding
b(1)
: to turn over and over
the children rolled in the grass
(2)
: to luxuriate in an abundant supply : wallow
fairly rolling in money
b
: to shift the gaze continually
eyes rolling in terror
c
: to revolve on an axis
4a
: to go forward in an easy, gentle, or undulating manner
the waves rolled in
b
: to flow in a continuous stream : pour
money was rolling in
c
: to flow as part of a stream of words or sounds
the names roll off your tongue
d
: to have an undulating contour
rolling prairie
e
: to lie extended : stretch
5a
: to travel in a vehicle
rolling north on the highway
b
: to become carried on a stream
c
: to move on wheels
6a
: to make a deep reverberating sound
the thunder rolls
b
: trill
7a
: to swing from side to side
the ship heaved and rolled
b
: to walk with a swinging gait : sway
8a
: to take the form of a cylinder or ball
b
: to respond to rolling in a specified way
9a
: to get underway : begin to move or operate
b
: to move forward : develop and maintain impetus
the project finally got rolling
especially
: to proceed or progress with notable ease or success
the team was rolling
10
: to execute a somersault
11
of a football quarterback
: to run toward one flank usually parallel to the line of scrimmage especially before throwing a pass
—often used with out
roll the bones
roll the dice
roll with the punches
: to shoot craps
: to assume a risk by taking action
rolled the dice when they bought those stocks
1
: to move so as to lessen the impact of blows
2
: to adjust to things as they happen
roll
noun (2)Definition of roll (Entry 3 of 3)
1a
: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum
b
: a sonorous and often rhythmical flow of speech
c
: a heavy reverberatory sound
the roll of cannon
2
: a rolling movement or an action or process involving such movement
a roll of the dice an airplane's takeoff roll
: such as
a
: a swaying movement of the body
b
: a side-to-side movement (as of a ship or train)
c(1)
: a flight maneuver in which a complete revolution about the longitudinal axis of an airplane is made with the horizontal direction of flight being approximately maintained
(2)
: the motion of an aircraft or spacecraft about its longitudinal axis
d
: a somersault executed in contact with the ground
on a roll
: in the midst of a series of successes : on a hot streak
—sometimes used with a modifier has been on a brilliant roll
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
More Confusing Words—Quiz
-

- The magician
______moved the selected card to the top of the deck.

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors

















Share roll
Time Traveler for roll
The first known use of roll was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century