# roof

/ˈɹuf/ (US) · /ɹˈuːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roof
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. top of a building

noun · CEFR A2

the outside part that covers the top of a building or house.

For teachers: the external upper covering of a building, designed to provide protection against the elements.

- The rain was hitting the roof so loudly that we couldn't hear the television.
- The architect specified a slate roof to ensure the new extension matched the aesthetic of the original Victorian manor.

### 2. top of a vehicle

noun · CEFR A2

the top part of a car, bus, or train.

For teachers: the upper surface of a vehicle, often used for storage or structural integrity.

- We strapped our bicycles to the roof of the car before driving to the mountains.
- The convertible features a retractable hardtop roof that can be lowered in under twenty seconds while the vehicle is in motion.

### 3. upper part of a cavity

noun · CEFR B2

the top inside surface of something, like your mouth or a cave.

For teachers: the interior upper surface of a hollow structure or anatomical cavity.

- He burned the roof of his mouth because the pizza was too hot.
- The explorers marvelled at the stalactites hanging from the roof of the limestone cavern, some of which reached nearly to the floor.

### 4. mining/geology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the rock layer directly above a tunnel or a layer of coal.

For teachers: the rock layer immediately overlying a mineral seam or underground gallery.

- The miners had to install extra supports to keep the roof from falling.
- Geological surveys indicated that the shale roof above the coal seam was unstable, necessitating a change in the extraction method.

### 5. to provide a cover

verb · CEFR B2

to build or put a roof on a building.

For teachers: to cover a structure with a roof; often used in the passive voice to describe a finished building.

- The workers finished roofing the new house just before the winter started.
- The stadium is roofed with a translucent material that allows natural light to reach the grass while protecting spectators from rain.

Usage: Often used as a past participle or in the passive voice.

## Examples

- The rain is leaking through the roof of the house.
- The workers spent the entire afternoon repairing the damaged tiles on the roof after the storm passed.
- Architects must consider both the weight of the materials and the local climate when designing a roof that can withstand heavy snowfall and high winds.

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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.