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role

n.
US //ˈɹoʊɫ// UK //ɹˈəʊl// role
  1. 1 acting/performance (n.)
    A2 Elementary Theatre

    the character that an actor plays in a film, play, or television show.

    a character or part portrayed by a performer in a dramatic production.

    Example

    She got the lead role in the school play after a great audition.

    Example

    The actor spent months researching the historical figure to ensure his portrayal of the role was both accurate and emotionally resonant.
  2. 2 function or purpose (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Academic

    the job or purpose that someone or something has in a particular situation.

    the function, position, or purpose of an individual or object within a specific context or system.

    Example

    Parents play a very important role in their children's education.

    Example

    The central bank plays a critical role in maintaining economic stability by adjusting interest rates in response to inflation data.
    Pitfall
    What is your role of the project?
    What is your role in the project?

    Use the preposition 'in' to describe the context of a role.

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  1. 3 social behavior (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the way a person is expected to behave in a society or group.

    the set of expected behaviours, obligations, and norms associated with a particular social status.

    Example

    Traditional gender roles have changed significantly over the last fifty years.

    Example

    Sociologists study how individuals navigate conflicting roles when their professional obligations clash with their personal identities.
  2. 4 grammar (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the job a word does in a sentence, like being the subject or the object.

    the syntactic or semantic function of a linguistic element within a phrase or clause.

    Example

    In this sentence, the noun 'dog' has the role of the subject.

    Example

    The professor explained how the same noun phrase can fulfill different semantic roles depending on the voice of the verb.

    Usage

    Often used with 'thematic' or 'grammatical'.
  3. 5 computing/permissions (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a set of permissions given to a user in a computer system.

    a designation in a system that carries a specific set of privileges, access rights, or responsibilities.

    Example

    You need to be assigned the 'admin' role to change the website settings.

    Example

    The system administrator implemented role-based access control to ensure that sensitive data was only visible to authorised personnel.
Origin

From French rôle, from Middle French rolle, from Old French role, from Medieval Latin rotulus. Doublet of roll and rotulus.

Idioms1 entry

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