Word Definition

Roll

  1. To spread under a roller or rolling-pin; as, the paste rolls well.
  2. The act of rolling, or state of being rolled; as, the roll of a ball; the roll of waves.
  3. A cylindrical twist of tobacco.
  4. To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution; as, the rolling year; ages roll away.
  5. The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
  6. To beat a drum with strokes so rapid that they can scarcely be distinguished by the ear.
  7. A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form; as, a roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon.
  8. To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
  9. To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise; as, the thunder rolls.
  10. Hence, an official or public document; a register; a record; also, a catalogue; a list.
  11. 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 suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
  12. To move, as a curved object may, along a surface by rotation without sliding; to revolve upon an axis; to turn over and over; as, a ball or wheel rolls on the earth; a body rolls on an inclined plane.
  13. That which rolls; a roller.
  14. To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap; -- often with up; as, to roll up a parcel.
  15. A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself.
  16. To move, as waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
  17. To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball; as, the cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
  18. One of a set of revolving cylinders, or rollers, between which metal is pressed, formed, or smoothed, as in a rolling mill; as, to pass rails through the rolls.
  19. A heavy cylinder used to break clods.
  20. A document written on a piece of parchment, paper, or other materials which may be rolled up; a scroll.
  21. That which is rolled up; as, a roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
  22. To incline first to one side, then to the other; to rock; as, there is a great difference in ships about rolling; in a general semse, to be tossed about.
  23. To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers; as, to roll a field; to roll paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
  24. To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as, to roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
  25. To move on wheels; as, the carriage rolls along the street.
  26. To fall or tumble; -- with over; as, a stream rolls over a precipice.
  27. To turn; to move circularly.
  28. Part; office; duty; role.
  29. To turn over, or from side to side, while lying down; to wallow; as, a horse rolls.
  30. 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; as, to roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
  31. To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; -- often with forth, or out; as, to roll forth some one's praises; to roll out sentences.
  32. To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
  33. A heavy, reverberatory sound; as, the roll of cannon, or of thunder.
  34. To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
  35. The oscillating movement of a vessel from side to side, in sea way, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.
  36. To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.