roll

Formsrolls, rolling, rolled

Pluralrolls

1. 1
   keep turningverbtransitive or intransitive

   To turn over and over on an axis, or to move forward by turning on a supporting surface.

   Logs roll easily down the slope when given a push.

   She rolled the barrel across the yard toward the shed.

   UsageWorks both ways: you roll a barrel, and the barrel rolls; add the direction with down, across or away.

   Similartumble, trundle, wheel, turn

   Note

   Dryden's Virgil (1697) still spells it rowl, as felled trees "rowl with Ruin down." Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • John Dryden's translation of Virgil was first published in 1697. openbook.lib.utah.edu
   • The first-edition title page gives the publication year as 1697. archive.org
   • Dryden's translation uses rowl in the quoted description of felled trees. en.wikisource.org
2. 2
   on wheelsverbintransitive

   To move from place to place by means of wheels or rollers underneath.

   The suitcase rolled behind her through the airport.

   Freight cars roll down the gentle grade into the yard.

   Similartrundle, glide, coast, rumble

3. 3
   breadnouncountable

   A small portion of bread, baked in a rounded shape, often folded or rolled upon itself before baking.

   He filled a soft roll with ham and cheese.

   The basket on the table held an assortment of dinner rolls.

   UsageSay bread roll or dinner roll when roll alone could be unclear.

   Similarbun, bap

   Note

   Bread named by the word behind the scroll, not by the verb, though the dough is often rolled or doubled on itself, so the shape suits the name either way. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • The bread sense belongs to the noun origin shared with the scroll sense, separately from the verb origin. en.wiktionary.org
   • Bread rolls are often rolled or doubled upon themselves. en.wiktionary.org
4. 4
   curl into tubeverbtransitive

   To wrap something around on itself, or to shape it into a ball or cylinder by turning it over and over.

   She rolled the yoga mat and tucked it under her arm.

   Workers roll the steel sheets into large coils.

   UsageSay roll clay into a ball or roll up a mat; material that rolls well behaves well when rolled.

   Similarcoil, wind, curl, furl, wrap

   Oppositeunroll, unwind, unfurl

5. 5
   name listnouncountable

   A catalog or list of names, especially one kept for official record-keeping.

   The officer called each name on the roll in turn.

   Officials struck several names from the roll after the review.

   UsageSet phrases: call the roll, on the roll, strike someone off the roll.

   Similarlist, register, roster, index

   Note

   The list meaning lives on in official record-keeping. The roll of solicitors names those admitted to practice, and voter rolls decide who may vote, which is why being removed from one matters. John Davies's "the roll and list of which army" already pairs it with list. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • Electoral registration determines whether someone can participate in elections, so removal matters. gov.uk
6. 6
   a throw (dice)nouncountable

   A throw of one or more dice, or the total produced by the throw.

   A single roll of the dice decided the entire game.

   Players needed a roll of seven to advance their pieces.

   UsageCommon in a roll of the dice, also used for any gamble.

   Similarthrow, cast, toss

7. 7
   throw diceverbtransitive or intransitive

   To throw dice so that they produce a particular number, pattern, or total.

   He rolled double sixes and cleared the board.

   If you roll badly in the opening, recovery is difficult.

   UsageThe object can name the result: roll a seven or roll doubles.

   Similarthrow, cast, toss

8. 8
   flow onwardverbfigurativelyintransitive

   To move or flow steadily onward with a wave-like motion.

   The crowd rolled toward the stadium gates in a steady wave.

   Storm clouds roll in from the sea every afternoon.

   UsageOf time, often roll on: the years rolled on; clouds and fog roll in.

   Similarsurge, flow, sweep, stream, pour

   Note

   Here the motion is a wave's rather than a wheel's, and it stretches easily from water to time: a river rolls its waters to the ocean, and the years roll on.

9. 9
   a turning motionnouncountable

   The action or result of rolling, or the state of having been rolled.

   The roll of the barrel down the ramp was slow and steady.

   After one slow roll across the green, the ball dropped neatly into the cup.

   Similartumble, turn, spin, rotation

10. 10
    press flatverbtransitive

    To press, smooth, level, or shape something using a roller or rollers.

    Bakers roll the pastry into thin, even sheets.

    The crew rolled the fresh asphalt to make the road smooth.

    Similarflatten, press, smooth, level, compact

11. 11
    cylinder (paper)nouncountable

    A quantity of flexible material, such as cloth, paper, film, tape or tobacco, wound or twisted into a cylinder.

    The tailor unwound a roll of silk across the cutting table.

    Several rolls of canvas were stored in the back room.

    UsageSay a roll of tape, film or paper.

    Similarbolt, reel, spool, coil

12. 12
    lucky streaknouncountable

    A continuing streak of success or good luck, as in sport, gambling, or any undertaking.

    The team was on a roll, winning five games straight.

    Once a gambler is on a roll, it is hard to walk away from the table.

    UsageUsually on a roll, with a: the team is on a roll.

    Similarstreak, run, tear

    Oppositeslump

    Note

    A gambler's phrase that now covers any run of success: on a roll means each attempt keeps paying off.

13. 13
    bundle upverbtransitive

    To bind or wrap something by winding a covering around it, often with up.

    Before packing the tent, he rolled the poles up inside the groundsheet and tied the bundle with string.

    Before moving day, we roll each glass up in newspaper so nothing breaks.

    Similarwrap, bind, swathe, wind

    Oppositeunwrap

14. 14
    start filmingverbtransitive or intransitive

    To begin filming, or to cause a camera to start recording.

    Action was called the moment the cameras began to roll.

    The operator rolled film as the actors took their places.

    Similarrecord, run, shoot

    Oppositecut

    Note

    The language of the film set, where the camera can be either the subject or the object: the cameras are rolling, or someone rolls the cameras. Either way, the word marks the stretch when recording is live. Announcing that the cameras are rolling therefore also warns everyone that what happens next will be kept.

15. 15
    a ship's rockingnouncountable or uncountable

    The side-to-side rocking of a vessel as it rotates about its fore-and-aft axis, distinct from the rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.

    The ship's roll grew violent as the swell increased.

    Engineers fitted fins to reduce the vessel's roll.

    Similarrocking, sway, swaying, lurch

    Note

    The motion named as a thing to be watched and compared: a heavy roll, a ship's roll set against its pitching. The same noun stretches to how far a vessel tips and, for aircraft, to a deliberate full rotation. Context tells whether roll means a sway, a measurement or a maneuver. The three-axis picture is set out under the verb for this motion. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • A vessel's roll can be measured as its angular displacement about its fore-and-aft axis. en.wiktionary.org
    • An aircraft roll can be a maneuver involving a complete rotation about its longitudinal axis. en.wikipedia.org
16. 16
    rock (ship)verbintransitive

    To rotate about the front-to-back axis, so that a vessel's or aircraft's sides rise and fall.

    The ship rolled heavily in the storm swell.

    Aircraft roll when the pilot moves the control stick sideways.

    Similarrock, sway, lurch, wallow

    Note

    One of three rotations used to describe how a ship or aircraft moves. Rolling tips the sides up and down about the fore-and-aft axis, pitching raises and lowers bow and stern, and yaw is the third. Sailors and pilots keep the terms strictly apart. Usually the craft itself is the subject (the ship rolled), though a pilot can also roll an aircraft. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

    • Ships have three rotational motions: roll, pitch and yaw. science.nasa.gov
    • Aircraft likewise rotate about three axes, associated with roll, pitch and yaw. www1.grc.nasa.gov
    • Rolling is rotation about the fore-and-aft axis. en.wikipedia.org
    • Pitching raises and lowers the bow and stern. en.wikipedia.org
    • Roll also takes an object when someone or something causes the aircraft to rotate about this axis. faasafety.gov
17. 17
    behaveverbslangUSintransitive

    To behave or handle situations in a particular, characteristic way.

    We don't do long meetings here; that's not how we roll.

    She rolls with whatever the day brings.

    UsageMostly in fixed frames: that's how we roll, I don't roll like that.

    Similaroperate, work

18. 18
    spinning partnouncountable

    An object that rolls, turning over and over or revolving on an axis.

    A dented roll on the old printing press left a faint streak across every page.

    Packages glide down the warehouse line on a bed of steel rolls that turn freely under their weight.

    Similarroller, cylinder

    Note

    Press rollers and the heavy field roller that breaks up clods are particular cases of it. Keep it apart from the scroll, which comes through Medieval Latin rotulus, a parchment rolled up. That roll names what has been rolled, while this one names what does the rolling. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The scroll noun has a distinct borrowing history through Medieval Latin rotulus, meaning a rolled-up parchment. en.wiktionary.org
19. 19
    high (MDMA)verbslangintransitive

    To be feeling the effects of MDMA, the psychedelic stimulant drug also called ecstasy.

    Judging by his dilated pupils and clenched jaw, he had clearly been rolling on molly all night.

    He swore he would never roll again after the comedown left him miserable for three days.

    UsageMostly in the progressive: someone is rolling or was rolling on ecstasy; hard marks intensity.

20. 20
    rise and fall (land)verbintransitive

    To look like a series of long waves, rising and falling one after another, as hills and open country do.

    East of the river, the prairie rolls in long, grassy swells toward the horizon.

    Low hills roll on for miles past the last town, dotted with sheep and stone walls.

    UsageMost often as rolling hills or rolling countryside.

    Similarundulate

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