What does "roast" mean?

1. (to cook with dry heat) to cook meat or vegetables in an oven or over a fire. 2. (to criticize or joke about someone) to criticize someone severely or make fun of them in a clever way. 3. (a piece of meat) a large piece of meat that is cooked or ready to be cooked in the oven. 4. (a comedy event) an event where people take turns making jokes about a guest of honor. 5. (coffee processing) the level of heat used to dry coffee beans, which changes their flavor. 6. (cooked by roasting) describes food that has been cooked in an oven.

roast

v. · n. · adj.

US //ˈɹoʊst// UK //ɹˈəʊst// roast

1 to cook with dry heat (v.)
A2 Elementary Cooking

to cook meat or vegetables in an oven or over a fire.

to cook food by exposure to dry heat in an oven or over an open flame, typically resulting in a browned or crisp exterior.

Example

We plan to roast a whole chicken for Sunday dinner with the family.

Example

The chef recommends you roast the root vegetables at a high temperature to caramelize their natural sugars effectively.
- bake
- grill
- boil
- steam
2 to criticize or joke about someone (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

to criticize someone severely or make fun of them in a clever way.

to subject someone to severe criticism or humorous, often public, mockery.

Example

His friends started to roast him about his terrible new haircut.

Example

The comedian proceeded to roast the front-row celebrities, delivering sharp barbs that left the audience in stitches.
- praise
- compliment

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3 a piece of meat (n.)
A2 Elementary Cooking

a large piece of meat that is cooked or ready to be cooked in the oven.

a cut of meat suitable for roasting, or the meat after it has been so cooked.

Example

She took the beef roast out of the oven and let it rest.

Example

The butcher suggested a three-kilogram rib roast, noting that the marbling would ensure the meat remained succulent during the long cooking process.
- joint
- cut
4 a comedy event (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Theatre

an event where people take turns making jokes about a guest of honor.

a formal or informal event where a specific individual is subjected to comedic insults and praise-by-sarcasm.

Example

The late-night show featured a roast of the famous actor.

Example

The charity gala concluded with a good-natured roast of the retiring CEO, featuring anecdotes from his thirty-year career.
- tribute
5 coffee processing (n.)
B1 Intermediate Cooking

the level of heat used to dry coffee beans, which changes their flavor.

the degree to which coffee beans have been heated, or the specific flavor profile resulting from that process.

Example

I prefer a dark roast because it has a much stronger flavor.

Example

The specialty café offers a variety of beans, ranging from a bright light roast to a smoky, oil-rich Italian roast.
- intensity
- grade
6 cooked by roasting (adj.)
A2 Elementary Cooking

describes food that has been cooked in an oven.

having been prepared via the application of dry heat.

Example

We had roast beef and potatoes for lunch today.

Example

The menu featured roast duck served with a reduction of cherries and balsamic vinegar.
- roasted
- raw
- boiled

Origin

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”).