roast
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to cook meat or vegetables in an oven or over a fire.
v.to cook food by exposure to dry heat in an oven or over an open flame, typically resulting in a browned or crisp exterior.
Simple“We plan to roast a whole chicken for Sunday dinner with the family.”
In context“The chef recommends you roast the root vegetables at a high temperature to caramelize their natural sugars effectively.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to criticize someone severely or make fun of them in a clever way.
v.to subject someone to severe criticism or humorous, often public, mockery.
Simple“His friends started to roast him about his terrible new haircut.”
In context“The comedian proceeded to roast the front-row celebrities, delivering sharp barbs that left the audience in stitches.”
Antonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
n.a large piece of meat that is cooked or ready to be cooked in the oven.
n.a cut of meat suitable for roasting, or the meat after it has been so cooked.
Simple“She took the beef roast out of the oven and let it rest.”
In context“The butcher suggested a three-kilogram rib roast, noting that the marbling would ensure the meat remained succulent during the long cooking process.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.an event where people take turns making jokes about a guest of honor.
n.a formal or informal event where a specific individual is subjected to comedic insults and praise-by-sarcasm.
Simple“The late-night show featured a roast of the famous actor.”
In context“The charity gala concluded with a good-natured roast of the retiring CEO, featuring anecdotes from his thirty-year career.”
Synonyms - 05 B1 Intermediate
n.the level of heat used to dry coffee beans, which changes their flavor.
n.the degree to which coffee beans have been heated, or the specific flavor profile resulting from that process.
Simple“I prefer a dark roast because it has a much stronger flavor.”
In context“The specialty café offers a variety of beans, ranging from a bright light roast to a smoky, oil-rich Italian roast.”
- 06 A2 Elementary
adj.describes food that has been cooked in an oven.
adj.having been prepared via the application of dry heat.
Simple“We had roast beef and potatoes for lunch today.”
In context“The menu featured roast duck served with a reduction of cherries and balsamic vinegar.”
“That ‘journey’ was funny: last time I was in London I went to a pub to find a Sunday roast … but by then it’s vegan.”
“A bag of ground roast coffee that cost $4.30 in 2020 was already $6.32 in 2024, and is now $9.61 and heading for $10.”
From Middle English rosten, a borrowing from Old French rostir (“to roast, to torture with fire”), from Frankish rōstijan (“to roast, broil”), from Proto-Germanic raustijaną (“to roast”), from Proto-Indo-European *rews- (“to crackle; roast”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian rosterje (“to roast”), Dutch roosten, roosteren (“to roast”), German rösten (“to roast”). Displaced native Middle English breden, bræden (“to roast”), from Old English brǣdan, related to German braten (“to roast, grill”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.