ENGLISH
REFERENCE

roofs

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɹufs// UK //ɹˈuːfs// roofs

n. the top parts of buildings that cover them and protect them from rain and sun.

n. the external upper coverings of buildings or other structures. Plural form of 'roof'.


SIMPLE

The red roofs of the village look beautiful from the hill.

CONTEXTUAL

Heavy snow can put a lot of pressure on the roofs of older houses, sometimes causing structural damage.

COMPLEX

In many Mediterranean cities, flat roofs serve as additional living spaces where residents gather during the cooler evening hours to escape the heat of the day.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English rofes, equivalent to roof + -s without voicing, first appearing in print in the 14th century. Displaced rooves as the standard plural in the early 17th century.

Usage

The standard plural is 'roofs'; the form 'rooves' is considered archaic or dialectal and is rarely used in modern standard English.

Pitfall

The rooves of the housesThe roofs of the housesWhile some words ending in -f change to -ves (like leaf/leaves), 'roof' follows the standard rule of adding -s.

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