# roast

/ˈɹoʊst/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roast
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to cook with dry heat

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- We plan to roast a whole chicken for Sunday dinner with the family.
- The chef recommends you roast the root vegetables at a high temperature to caramelize their natural sugars effectively.

### 2. to criticize or joke about someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- His friends started to roast him about his terrible new haircut.
- The comedian proceeded to roast the front-row celebrities, delivering sharp barbs that left the audience in stitches.

### 3. a piece of meat

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She took the beef roast out of the oven and let it rest.
- The butcher suggested a three-kilogram rib roast, noting that the marbling would ensure the meat remained succulent during the long cooking process.

### 4. a comedy event

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

- The late-night show featured a roast of the famous actor.
- The charity gala concluded with a good-natured roast of the retiring CEO, featuring anecdotes from his thirty-year career.

### 5. coffee processing

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- I prefer a dark roast because it has a much stronger flavor.
- The specialty café offers a variety of beans, ranging from a bright light roast to a smoky, oil-rich Italian roast.

### 6. cooked by roasting

adjective · CEFR A2

describes food that has been cooked in an oven.

For teachers: having been prepared via the application of dry heat.

- We had roast beef and potatoes for lunch today.
- The menu featured roast duck served with a reduction of cherries and balsamic vinegar.

## Examples

- The comedian's roast of the celebrity was very funny.
- After he showed up in that ridiculous outfit, his friends gave him a brutal roast in the group chat.
- What began as a lighthearted roast among colleagues quickly turned awkward when one speaker touched on a genuinely sensitive professional failure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.