roof

1 of 2

noun

plural roofs ˈrüfs How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇fs,
 also  ˈrüvz,
ˈru̇vz How to pronounce roof (audio)
1
a(1)
: the cover of a building
(2)
: material used for a roof : roofing
b
: the roof of a dwelling conventionally designating the home itself
didn't have a roof over my head
they share the same roof
2
a
: the highest point : summit
b
: an upper limit : ceiling
3
a
: the vaulted upper boundary of the mouth
b
: a covering structure of any of various parts of the body
roof of the skull
4
: something suggesting a roof: such as
a
: a canopy of leaves and branches
b
: the top over the passenger section of a vehicle
roofed
ˈrüft How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇ft
adjective
roofless
ˈrü-fləs How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇-
adjective
rooflike
ˈrüf-ˌlīk How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇f-
adjective

Illustration of roof

Illustration of roof
  • 1 gambrel
  • 2 mansard
  • 3 hip
  • 4 lean-to

roof

2 of 2

verb

roofed; roofing; roofs

transitive verb

1
a
: to cover with or as if with a roof
b
: to provide with a particular kind of roof or roofing
often used in combination
slate-roofed houses
2
: to constitute a roof over
roofer noun
Phrases
through the roof
: to an extremely or excessively high level
prices went through the roof

Examples of roof in a Sentence

Noun the roof of a car The roof of the old barn collapsed. He bit into a hot slice of pizza and burned the roof of his mouth. Verb fed and roofed the emergency volunteers for a week
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
Conditions deteriorated overnight on Wednesday when the roof of a nearby mine collapsed, the newspaper reported. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 The catastrophic blaze destroyed the roof and spire of the historic medieval cathedral in Paris caught fire in April2019, after which French President Emmanuel Macron set a five year deadline for its restoration, which cost around $737 million, according to the BBC. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
His sculptures and paintings employ construction materials like wood, rubber and roofing tar. Siddhartha Mitter, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Our friend needs her chicken coop (really a greenhouse frame) sided and roofed for the coming cold. R29 Team, refinery29.com, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for roof 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hrōf; akin to Old Norse hrōf roof of a boathouse and perhaps to Old Church Slavic stropŭ roof

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of roof was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near roof

Cite this Entry

“Roof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roof. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

roof

1 of 2 noun
plural roofs ˈrüfs How to pronounce roof (audio) ˈru̇fs How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈrüvz,
ˈru̇vz
1
a
: the upper covering part of a building
b
: a place to live : home
a roof over one's head
2
: the upper boundary of the mouth
3
: something resembling a roof in form, position, or purpose
roofed
ˈrüft How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇ft
adjective
roofless
ˈrüf-ləs How to pronounce roof (audio)
ˈru̇f-
adjective
rooflike adjective

roof

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cover with or as if with a roof
2
: to provide with roofing
roofer noun

Medical Definition

roof

noun
plural roofs
ˈrüfs, ˈru̇fs also ˈrüvz, ˈru̇vz
1
: the vaulted upper boundary of the mouth supported largely by the palatine bones and limited anteriorly by the dental lamina and posteriorly by the uvula and upper part of the fauces
2
: a covering structure of any of various parts of the body other than the mouth
roof of the skull
roof of the dental pulp chamber

More from Merriam-Webster on roof

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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