# roulette

/ɹuˈɫɛt/ (US) · /ɹuːlˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roulette
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the casino game

noun · CEFR B2

a gambling game where a small ball is dropped onto a spinning wheel with numbered red and black spaces.

For teachers: a game of chance in which a small ball is spun on a wheel divided into numbered, coloured compartments, with players wagering on where the ball will rest.

- They spent the evening playing roulette at the casino in Monte Carlo.
- The veteran gambler placed a significant bet on number seventeen, watching the roulette wheel spin with practiced indifference.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the game itself.

### 3. engraving tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small tool with a spiked wheel used to make dots or patterns on a surface.

For teachers: a small toothed wheel used by engravers or in stamp production to create rows of dots or incisions.

- The artist used a roulette to add texture to the metal plate.
- Philatelists distinguish between these two issues by examining the specific pattern left by the roulette during the separation process.

Usage: Countable noun used primarily in art and philately.

### 4. to mark with a wheel

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to make a line of small holes or marks using a special tool.

For teachers: to separate or decorate a surface by making incisions with a small toothed wheel.

- The edges of the paper were rouletted to make them easier to tear.
- Before the introduction of standard perforations, many postal authorities rouletted their sheets of stamps to facilitate separation.

Usage: Transitive verb.

## Examples

- He lost all his money playing roulette at the casino.
- The crowd gathered around the table to watch the ball spin during a high-stakes game of roulette.
- While the odds in roulette are mathematically fixed, many players still believe they can predict the outcome by tracking previous winning numbers on the electronic display.

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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.