roll

English

/ɹəʊl/, /ɹoʊl/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface.
  • (intransitive) To turn over and over.
  • (intransitive) To tumble in gymnastics; to do a somersault.
  • (transitive) To wrap (something) round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over.
  • (transitive) To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to enwrap; often with up.
  • (intransitive) To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball.
  • (ergative) To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling.
  • (ergative) To utter copiously, especially with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; — often with forth, or out.
  • (transitive) To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers.
  • (intransitive) To spread itself under a roller or rolling-pin.
  • (ergative) To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
  • (chiefly) To leave or begin a journey.
  • (chiefly) To compete, especially with vigor.
  • (transitive) To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
  • (geometry) To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in such a manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
  • (transitive) To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
  • (US) To behave in a certain way; to adopt a general disposition toward a situation.
  • (dice) To throw dice.
  • (dice) To roll dice such that they form a given pattern or total.
  • (RPG) To create a new character in a role-playing game, especially by using dice to determine properties.
  • (intransitive) To generate a random number.
  • (intransitive) To rotate on its fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down. Compare with pitch.
  • (intransitive) To travel by sailing.
  • (transitive) To beat up; to attack and cause physical damage to.
  • (transitive) To cause to betray secrets or to testify for the prosecution.
  • (intransitive) To betray secrets.
  • (slang) To be under the influence of MDMA (a psychedelic stimulant, also known as ecstasy (ecstasy)).
  • (ambitransitive) To (cause to) film.
  • (transitive) To slip past (a defender) with the ball.
  • (intransitive) To have a rolling aspect.
  • (figurative) To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution.
  • (intransitive) To move, like waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
  • (figurative) to move and cause an effect on someone
  • (intransitive) To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise.
  • (transitive) To utter with an alveolar trill.
  • (transitive) To enrobe in toilet-paper (as a prank or spectacle).
  • (transitive) To create a customized version of.
  • (transitive) To engage in sparring in the context of jujitsu or other grappling disciplines.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English rollen derived from Old French roller derived from Latin rotulāre, rotula (a little wheel, roll, little wheel), rollāre.

Origin

Latin

rollāre

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms