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\ ˈrüf 
, ˈru̇f \
, ˈru̇f \ plural roofs\ ˈrüfs , ˈru̇fs also ˈrüvz , ˈru̇vz \
, ˈru̇fs also ˈrüvz , ˈru̇vz \Definition of roof
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(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
3a : 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
through the roof
: to an extremely or excessively high level
prices went through the roof
roof
verbroofed; roofing; roofs
Definition of roof (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : to cover with or as if with a roof
b : to provide with a particular kind of roof or roofing —often used in combinationslate-roofed houses
2 : to constitute a roof over
Illustration of roof
Noun
roof 1a(1): 1 gambrel, 2 mansard, 3 hip, 4 lean-to
In the meaning defined above
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Other Words from roof
Noun
roofed \ ˈrüft , ˈru̇ft \ adjective
, ˈru̇ft \ adjectiveroofless \ ˈrü-fləs , ˈru̇- \ adjective
, ˈru̇- \ adjectiverooflike \ ˈrüf-ˌlīk , ˈru̇f- \ adjective
, ˈru̇f- \ adjectiveVerb
roofer noun
Synonyms for roof
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
- accommodate,
- bestow,
- billet,
- bivouac,
- board,
- bunk,
- camp,
- chamber,
- domicile,
- encamp,
- harbor,
- house,
- lodge,
- put up,
- quarter,
- room,
- shelter,
- take in
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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the room is a rope tied to a bell on the roof, which led the Crooks family to believe the office was once used as a schoolhouse.
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Laura Bednar, cleveland, "Independence opens historical homes for holiday tour," 2 Dec. 2019 The rebuilt roof’s dormers and gables give quirky angles to some rooms, and its original arched windows are now double-pane insulated.
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Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "Stunning penthouse sits atop Brush Park mansion brought back to life," 30 Nov. 2019 In his current midcentury-modern phase, Strong has considered re-creating the historic Kentucky Fried Chicken building in Palm Springs, with its soaring, wing-like roof, another retro-futuristic form of the era.
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Leilani Marie Labong, SFChronicle.com, "Prairie chef gives gingerbread houses a midcentury modern turn," 29 Nov. 2019 Ace Hardwares roof peeling off and coming into our back parking lot.
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CBS News, ""Bomb cyclone" and snow cause travel delays on Thanksgiving," 28 Nov. 2019 White beadboard capped the roof, its brim shading a front porch set on cinder blocks.
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Jeff Sharlet, Harpers Magazine, "December 2019," 25 Nov. 2019 All the interior drywall would need to be replaced, as would the roof, of course, along with the doors and windows.
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David Sedaris, The New Yorker, "Hurricane Season," 25 Nov. 2019 White beadboard capped the roof, its brim shading a front porch set on cinder blocks.
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Wes Enzinna, Harper's magazine, "Gimme Shelter," 19 Nov. 2019 Buy now: Americanah Life After Life, Kate Atkinson (2013)
Ursula Todd dies over and over again in Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life—from falling off a roof, from drowning, from succumbing to the flu.
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Time Staff, Time, "The 10 Best Fiction Books of the 2010s," 12 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb All 400,000 square feet of the new $200 million plant appear to be roofed in and ready for interior development.
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Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, "Blue Origin’s Alabama rocket engine plant shaping up, and it’s big," 12 Nov. 2019 The fact that they were excited about moving a bunch of ripped roofing paper to a glass box in Midtown that was often filled with Calders and Dubuffets said a lot!
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Tara Donovan, Town & Country, "How Arne and Marc Glimcher Forged a Family of Artists at Pace Gallery," 23 Oct. 2019 At the 5:56 mark, Carter Rowney roofed a short-handed goal.
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Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, "Ducks continue to defy expectations with impressive performance against Hurricanes," 18 Oct. 2019 Henrique then scored late in the second after taking the puck from Tomas Hertl and slaloming to the crease to roof a backhand.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Getzlaf, Kase send unbeaten Ducks past winless Sharks, 3-1," 5 Oct. 2019 The Coyotes took a 2-1 lead when Carl Soderberg fought for a loose puck in the neutral zone and willed it into the offensive zone before roofing the puck over Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen.
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Richard Morin, azcentral, "Den's Digest: Coyotes top Oilers in overtime for another road win," 4 Nov. 2019 Joel Hofer bobbles it, Morozoff takes it away from him and roofs it nicely.
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Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, "Hofer’s 29 saves lead Winterhawks over Seattle," 3 Nov. 2019 The rookie forward got the puck from Frederik Gauthier and moved into the slot before roofing his first NHL goal past Halak.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Rielly’s 2nd goal lifts Maple Leafs past Bruins 4-3 in OT," 19 Oct. 2019 By roofing the puck past Grubauer from the doorstep, Jake Guentzel extended his team lead in goals with his fifth.
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Mike Chambers, The Denver Post, "Avalanche falls short against Penguins, drops first game of season in overtime," 16 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'roof.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for roof
roof
noun English Language Learners Definition of roof
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the cover or top of a building, vehicle, etc.
: the top of the inside of a tunnel, cave, etc.
: the top of the inside of your mouth
roof
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of roof (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cover (something, such as a building) with a roof
See the full definition for roof in the English Language Learners Dictionary
roof
noun\ ˈrüf , ˈru̇f \
, ˈru̇f \ plural roofs
Kids Definition of roof
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the upper covering part of a building
2 : something like a roof in form, position, or purpose
Barely aware of the earth beneath my feet or the roof of trees above …— Avi, Crispin
roof
verbroofed; roofing
Kids Definition of roof (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cover with a roof
roof
noun\ ˈrüf , ˈru̇f \
, ˈru̇f \ plural roofs\ ˈrüfs, ˈru̇fs also ˈrüvz, ˈru̇vz \
Medical Definition of roof
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
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Time Traveler for roof
The first known use of roof was before the 12th century
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