rəul v. & n. --v. 1 a intr.
move or go in
some direction by
turning over and over on an axis (the ball rolled
under the table; a
barrel started rolling). b tr.
cause to do
this (rolled the barrel
into the cellar). 2 tr.
make revolve between two surfaces (rolled the
clay between
his palms). 3 a intr. (foll. by
along,
by, etc.) move or
advance on or (of
time etc.) as if on wheels etc. (the
bus rolled
past; the pram rolled
off the
pavement; the years rolled by). b tr. cause to do this (rolled the
tea trolley into the kitchen). c intr. (of a person) be conveyed in a
vehicle (the
farmer rolled by on his tractor). 4 a tr.
turn over and over on
itself to
form a
more or
less cylindrical or
spherical shape (rolled a newspaper). b tr. make by forming
material into a
cylinder or ball (rolled a
cigarette; rolled a
huge snowball). c tr.
accumulate into a mass (rolled the
dough into a ball). d intr. (foll. by into) make a specified shape of itself (the
hedgehog rolled into a ball). 5 tr.
flatten or form by
passing a
roller etc. over or by passing between rollers (roll the lawn; roll
pastry; roll
thin foil). 6 intr. & tr.
change or cause to change direction by rotatory
movement (his eyes rolled; he rolled his eyes). 7 intr. a
wallow, turn
about in a
fluid or a
loose medium (the
dog rolled in the dust). b (of a
horse etc.) lie on
its back and kick about,
esp. in an
attempt to
dislodge its
rider. 8 intr. a (of a
moving ship,
aircraft, or vehicle)
sway to and
fro on an axis
parallel to the direction of
motion. b
walk with an
unsteady swaying
gait (they rolled
out of the pub). 9 a intr.
undulate,
show or go with an undulating
surface or motion (rolling hills; rolling
mist; the waves roll in). b tr.
carry or
propel with
such motion (the
river rolls its waters to the sea). 10 a intr. (of machinery)
start functioning or moving (the cameras rolled; the
train began to roll). b tr. cause (machinery) to do this. 11 intr. & tr.
sound or utter with a
vibratory or trilling
effect (words rolled off his
tongue;
thunder rolled in the
distance; he rolls his rs). 12 US sl. a tr.
overturn (a
car etc.). b intr. (of a car etc.) overturn. 13 tr. US
throw (dice). 14 tr. sl.
rob (esp. a
helpless victim). --n. 1 a rolling motion or gait;
undulation (the roll of the hills). 2 a a spell of rolling (a roll in the mud). b a
gymnastic exercise in
which the
body is rolled into a tucked
position and turned in a
forward or
backward circle. c (esp. a roll in the hay) colloq. an
act of
sexual intercourse or
erotic fondling. 3 the
continuous rhythmic sound of thunder or a drum. 4 Aeron. a
complete revolution of an aircraft about its
longitudinal axis. 5 a a cylinder formed by turning
flexible material over and over on itself
without folding (a roll of
carpet; a roll of wallpaper). b a filled
cake or pastry of
similar form (fig roll;
sausage roll). 6 a a
small portion of
bread individually baked. b this with a specified
filling (ham roll). 7 a more or less cylindrical or semicylindrical
straight or curved mass of
something (rolls of
fat; a roll of hair). 8 a an
official list or
register (the
electoral roll). b the
total numbers on this (the schools' rolls
have fallen). c a
document, esp. an official
record, in
scroll form. 9 a cylinder or roller, esp. to shape
metal in a rolling-mill. 10 Archit. a a
moulding of
convex section. b a
spiral scroll of an
Ionic capital. 11 US &
Austral.
money, esp. as banknotes rolled
together. øbe rolling colloq. be
very rich. be rolling in colloq. have
plenty of (esp. money). on a roll US sl. experiencing a
bout of
success or
progress;
engaged in a
period of
intense activity. roll back US cause (esp. prices) to
decrease. roll-back n. a
reduction (esp. in price). roll bar an
overhead metal bar strengthening the
frame of a vehicle (esp. in racing) and protecting the occupants if the vehicle overturns. roll-call a process of
calling out a list of names to
establish who is present. rolled
gold gold in the form of a thin
coating applied to a baser metal by rolling. rolled into
one combined in one
person or
thing. rolled oats oats
that have
been husked and crushed. roll in
arrive in
great numbers or
quantity. rolling
barrage = creeping barrage. rolling
drunk swaying or
staggering from drunkenness. rolling-mill a
machine or
factory for rolling metal into shape. rolling-pin a cylinder for rolling out pastry, dough, etc. rolling-stock 1 the locomotives, carriages, or
other vehicles, used on a
railway. 2 US the road vehicles of a
company. rolling
stone a person who is
unwilling to settle for long in one
place. rolling
strike industrial action through a
series of
limited strikes by
consecutive groups. roll-neck (of a garment) having a
high loosely turned-over
neck. roll of
honour a list of
those honoured, esp. the
dead in
war. roll on v.tr. 1 put on or
apply by rolling. 2 (in imper.) colloq. (of a time, in
eager expectation)
come quickly (roll on Friday!). roll-on (attrib.) (of
deodorant etc.) applied by
means of a rotating ball in the neck of the
container. --n. a
light elastic corset. roll-on roll-off (of a ship, a
method of
transport, etc.) in which vehicles are
driven directly on at the start of the
voyage and off at the
end of
it. roll over 1
send (a person) sprawling or rolling. 2 Econ.
finance the repayment of (maturing
stock etc.) by an
issue of
new stock. roll-over n. 1 Econ. the
extension or
transfer of a
debt or other
financial relationship. 2 colloq. the overturning of a vehicle etc. roll-top
desk a desk with a flexible
cover sliding in curved grooves. roll up 1 colloq. arrive in a vehicle;
appear on the
scene. 2 make into or form a roll. 3
Mil.
drive the
flank of (an
enemy line) back and
round so that the line is shortened or surrounded. roll-up (or roll-your-own) n. a hand-rolled cigarette. roll up one's sleeves see
SLEEVE. strike off the rolls
debar (esp. a solicitor) from practising
after dishonesty etc. øørollable adj. [ME f. OF rol(l)er, rouler, ro(u)lle f. L rotulus dimin. of
rota wheel]