roasts; roasted; roasting
1
a
: to cook (food such as chicken, potatoes, or beef) with dry heat in an oven or over a fire
He roasted the chicken.
The chicken is roasting in the oven.
b
: to dry (something, such as a bean or nut) with heat
We roasted the peanuts over the fire.
The peanuts roasted over the fire.
2
informal
: to be very hot
We were roasting in the hot sun.
You must be roasting [=baking, sweltering] in that sweater.
3
informal
: to criticize (someone or something) severely
The movie is being roasted by the critics.
4
US, informal
: to criticize (someone who is being honored at a special event) in a friendly or joking way : to tell jokes or funny stories about (someone)
Friends and family roasted him at his 40th birthday party.
plural roasts
1
: a piece of meat that is roasted
She made a roast for dinner.
We're having pork roast for dinner.
2
US
: an outdoor party at which food is cooked over an open fire
a pig roast
3
US
: an event at which someone is honored and people tell jokes or funny stories about that person in a friendly way
a celebrity roast
always used before a noun
: cooked by roasting
roast [=roasted] chicken/pork/potatoes
Cite this Entry
“Roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/roast. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
