Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: roller, from Vulgar Latin rotulare, from Latin rotula; ROLL2

roll

1 verb
     
NEW! See related topics: COLOURS AND SOUNDSTOBACCOGAMESNATURECRIMEAIRWATER
roll1 S1 W3
1

round object

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] if something rolls, especially something round, or if you roll it, it moves along a surface by turning over and over
roll down/into/through etc
The ball rolled into the street.
One of the eggs rolled off the counter.
roll something along/in/onto etc something
Roll the chicken breasts in flour.
2

person/animal

also roll over [intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition] to turn your body over one or more times while lying down, or to turn someone else's body over
roll down/onto/off etc
The children rolled down the hill, laughing.
Ralph rolled onto his stomach.
roll somebody onto/off something
I tried to roll him onto his side.
3

shape of tube/ball

also roll up [transitive] to make something into the shape of a tube or ball
roll something into a ball/tube
Roll the dough into small balls.
Would you like the paper rolled or folded?
4

make something flat

[transitive] to make something flat by rolling something heavy over it [↪ rolling pin]:
Pizza dough should be rolled thinly.
5

clothes

[transitive] also roll up to fold the sleeves or legs of something that you are wearing upwards, so that they are shorter:
His sleeves were rolled above his elbows.
6

something with wheels

[intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move on wheels, or make something that has wheels move
roll into/forwards/past etc
Her car was slowly rolling away from the curb.
roll something to/around etc something
The waitress rolled the dessert trolley over to our table.
7

drop of liquid

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move over a surface smoothly without stopping
roll down/onto etc
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
8

waves/clouds

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]DN to move continuously in a particular direction
roll into/towards etc
Mist rolled in from the sea.
We watched the waves rolling onto the beach.
9

game

[intransitive and transitive]DG if you roll dice, you throw them as part of a game
10

sound

[intransitive]C if drums or thunder roll, they make a long low series of sounds:
Thunder rolled in the distance.
11

machine/camera

[intransitive] if a machine such as a film camera or a printing press rolls, it operates:
There was silence as the cameras started to roll.
12

ship/plane

[intransitive]TTWTTA if a ship or plane rolls, it leans one way and then another with the movement of the water or air
13

cigarette

[transitive]DFT to make your own cigarette, using tobacco or marijuana and special paper [↪ roll-up]:
Ben rolled a joint (=a cigarette containing marijuana) and lit it.
It's cheaper to roll your own (=make your own cigarettes).
14

shoulders

[transitive] to move your shoulders forward, up, and back down:
He rolled his shoulders back.
15

eyes

[transitive]HBH to move your eyes around and up, especially in order to show that you are annoyed or think something is silly:
Lucy rolled her eyes as Tom sat down beside her.
16

attack

[transitive] American English informalSCC to rob someone, especially when they are drunk and asleep:
Kids on the streets rolled drunks for small change.
17

(all) rolled into one

if someone or something is several different things rolled into one, they include or do the work of all those things:
Mum was cook, chauffeur, nurse, and entertainer all rolled into one.
18

get (something) rolling

to start happening or make something start happening in a smooth and successful way:
The business didn't really get rolling until 1975.
Have a good breakfast to get your day rolling.
19

be rolling in money/dough/cash/it

to have or earn a lot of money:
'He's rolling in it,' said the girl, pointing at Lewis.
20

be rolling in the aisles

if people in a theatre, cinema etc are rolling in the aisles, they are laughing a lot
21

be ready to roll

spoken to be ready to start doing something:
The car was packed and we were ready to roll.
22

let's roll

spoken used to suggest to a group of people that you all begin doing something or go somewhere
23

roll with the punches

to deal with problems or difficulties by doing whatever you need to do, rather than by trying only one method:
Strong industries were able to roll with the punches during the recession.
24

roll on something

British English spoken used to say that you wish a time or event would come quickly:
Roll on the weekend!
25

roll your r's

SL to pronounce the sound /r/ using your tongue in a way that makes the sound very long
26

a rolling stone gathers no moss

used to say that someone who often changes jobs, moves to different places etc is not able to have any permanent relationships or duties

➔ set/start/keep the ball rolling

at ball1 (5)

➔ heads will roll

at head1 (36)

➔ let the good times roll

at let1 (20)

roll around

phrasal verb
if a time, event etc that happens regularly rolls around, it arrives or takes place again:
By the time Wednesday rolled around, I still hadn't finished.

roll something ↔ back

phrasal verb
1 to reduce the influence or power of a law, system, government etc:
a threat to roll back the legislation of the past 12 years
2 especially American English to reduce a price, cost etc:
the administration's promise to roll back taxes
 ➔ rollback
3 to force your opponents in a war to move back from their position
4

roll back the years

British English to make someone remember something from the past:
Looking at those old photos really rolled back the years.

roll something ↔ down

phrasal verb
1

roll a window down

TTC to open a car window
2 to unfold the ends of your sleeves or trouser legs so that they are their usual length:
He rolled down his sleeves and buttoned the cuffs.

roll in

phrasal verb
1 to happen or arrive in large numbers or quantities:
As the result of our appeal, the money came rolling in.
2 to arrive, especially later than usual or expected:
Chris finally rolled in at about 4:00 am.
3DN if mist, clouds etc roll in, they begin to cover an area of the sky or land:
Fog rolled in from the sea.

roll out

phrasal verb
1

roll sth↔ out

to make food that you are preparing flat and thin by pushing a rolling pin over it:
Roll out the dough on a floured surface.
2

roll sth↔out

to make a new product available for people to buy or use [= launch]:
The company expects to roll out the new software in September.
 ➔ roll-out
3 to leave a place, especially later than expected
roll out of
We used to hear people rolling out of the pubs at closing time.
He finally rolled out of bed at noon.
4

roll sth↔ out

to put something flat on the ground or a surface, when it was previously rolled into a tube shape:
We rolled out our sleeping bags under the stars.
5

roll out the red carpet

to make special preparations for an important visitor

roll (somebody) over

phrasal verb
to turn your body over once so that you are lying in a different position, or to turn someone's body over:
Ben rolled over and kissed her.
roll (somebody) over onto
The guards rolled him over onto his front.

roll up

phrasal verb
1 to make something into the shape of a tube or ball, or to become this shape
roll something ↔ up
Painters arrived and rolled up the carpet.
roll up into
Many animals roll up into a ball for warmth.
2

roll your sleeves/trousers etc up

DCC to turn the ends of your sleeves or trouser legs over several times so that they are shorter
3

roll your sleeves up

to start doing a job even though it is difficult or you do not want to do it:
It's time to roll up our sleeves and get some work done on the basics.
4

roll a window up

TTC to close the window of a car
5 to arrive somewhere, especially late or when you were not expected:
Max rolled up just after 9 o'clock.
6

roll up!

British English spoken used to call people to come and watch or buy things at a circus or fair
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

ADVERTISING AND MARKETINGANIMALSBANKING
BIOLOGYBUSINESS BASICSCOMPUTERS
CLOTHESDAILY LIFEEDUCATION
FINANCEFOODGRAMMAR
HAIR AND BEAUTYHUMANLAW
MUSICNATURESPORT
STOCKS AND SHARESTECHNOLOGYTRADE