roll
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to move by turning over and over, like a ball or a wheel.
v.to move along a surface by revolving on an axis; to impel forward with a revolving motion.
Simple“The ball rolled across the grass and stopped near the tree.”
In context“The heavy marble sphere began to roll down the incline, gathering significant momentum as it approached the base of the pedestal.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to wrap something around itself to make a tube or a ball.
v.to wrap a flexible material around itself or an object to form a cylindrical or spherical shape.
Simple“She rolled the poster carefully so it wouldn't get damaged in the mail.”
In context“The chef demonstrated how to roll the pastry dough tightly around the filling to ensure the strudel maintained its shape during baking.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to make something flat or smooth using a heavy tube.
v.to press, level, or spread a substance using a roller.
Simple“You need to roll the dough until it is very thin.”
In context“After the asphalt was poured, the construction crew used a steamroller to roll the surface until it was perfectly level with the existing pavement.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
v.to throw dice in a game.
v.to throw one or more dice to determine a random outcome in a game of chance.
Simple“It is your turn to roll the dice and move your piece.”
In context“The player needed to roll a double six to win the game, but the dice landed on a disappointing three and four.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to start a process, a journey, or a camera recording.
v.to begin an operation or journey; in media, to begin recording or filming.
Simple“We need to get this project rolling if we want to finish on time.”
In context“The director shouted for the cameras to roll, and the set immediately fell into a disciplined silence as the lead actor began his monologue.”
- 06 A2 Elementary
n.a small, individual piece of bread.
n.a small, often rounded individual portion of bread.
Simple“I had a chicken salad roll for lunch today.”
In context“The bakery is famous for its crusty dinner rolls, which are served warm with herb-infused butter at every meal.”
Synonymsbunbap - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an official list of names, like students in a class.
n.an official document or register containing a catalogue of names or items.
Simple“The teacher called the roll to see who was absent.”
In context“The historical society maintains a roll of all the soldiers who served in the local regiment during the nineteenth century.”
- 08 A2 Elementary
n.a long piece of paper, cloth, or film wrapped around a tube.
n.a quantity of flexible material wound into a cylindrical form.
Simple“Can you buy another roll of paper towels at the store?”
In context“The printer required a fresh roll of high-gloss photographic paper before the final proofs could be generated for the client's approval.”
- 09 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a long, deep, rumbling sound like thunder or a drum.
n.a heavy, reverberatory sound or a rapid succession of drumbeats.
Simple“We heard a long roll of thunder in the distance.”
In context“The performance concluded with a dramatic drum roll that built in intensity until the final crash of the cymbals.”
Synonyms - 10 C1 Advanced
n.the way a ship or plane tilts from side to side.
n.the oscillation of a vessel or aircraft about its longitudinal axis.
Simple“The ship's roll made several passengers feel seasick.”
In context“The pilot corrected the aircraft's roll using the ailerons to maintain a level flight path despite the heavy crosswinds.”
Synonyms - 11 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a period of time when you are very successful or lucky.
n.a sustained period of success or luck, typically used in the idiom 'on a roll'.
Simple“Our team is on a roll; we have won the last five games.”
In context“After securing three major contracts in a single month, the sales department felt they were truly on a roll.”
Usage roll back
From Middle English rollen, partly from Old French roller, roler, röeler, röoler, from Medieval Latin rotulāre (“to roll; to revolve”), from Latin rotula (“a little wheel”), diminutive of rota (“a wheel”); partly from Anglo-Latin rollāre, from the same ultimate source. Displaced native English welt.
From Middle English rolle, from Old French rolle, role, roule, from Medieval Latin rotulus (“a roll, list, catalogue, schedule, record, a paper or parchment rolled up”); as such, it is a doublet of role and rotulus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.