roll (rolls plural & 3rd person present) (rolling present participle) (rolled past tense & past participle )
1 verb When something rolls or when you roll it, it moves along a surface, turning over many times.
The ball rolled into the net... V prep/adv
I rolled a ball across the carpet... V n prep
2 verb If you roll somewhere, you move on a surface while lying down, turning your body over and over, so that you are sometimes on your back, sometimes on your side, and sometimes on your front.
When I was a little kid I rolled down a hill and broke my leg... V prep/adv
3 verb When vehicles roll along, they move along slowly.
The lorry quietly rolled forward. V prep/adv
4 verb If a machine rolls, it is operating.
He slipped and fell on an airplane gangway as the cameras rolled... V
5 verb If drops of liquid roll down a surface, they move quickly down it.
She looked at Ginny and tears rolled down her cheeks. V down n
6 verb If you roll something flexible into a cylinder or a ball, you form it into a cylinder or a ball by wrapping it several times around itself or by shaping it between your hands.
He took off his sweater, rolled it into a pillow and lay down on the grass... V n into n
He rolled and lit another cigarette. V n
Roll up means the same as roll., phrasal verb
Stein rolled up the paper bag with the money inside. V P n (not pron)
7 n-count A rollof paper, plastic, cloth, or wire is a long piece of it that has been wrapped many times around itself or around a tube.
usu N of n
The photographers had already shot a dozen rolls of film.
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toilet roll
8 verb If you rollup something such as a car window or a blind, you cause it to move upwards by turning a handle. If you roll it down, you cause it to move downwards by turning a handle.
In mid-afternoon, shopkeepers began to roll down their shutters... V n with adv
9 verb If you roll your eyes or if your eyes roll, they move round and upwards. People sometimes roll their eyes when they are frightened, bored, or annoyed.
WRITTEN People may roll their eyes and talk about overprotective, interfering grandmothers... V n
His eyes rolled and he sobbed. V
10 n-count A roll is a small piece of bread that is round or long and is made to be eaten by one person. Rolls can be eaten plain, with butter, or with a filling.
He spread butter on a roll.
11 n-count A rollof drums is a long, low, fairly loud sound made by drums.
As the town clock struck two, they heard the roll of drums.
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drum roll
12 n-count A roll is an official list of people's names.
with supp
(=register)
...the electoral roll.
13
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rolling
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rock and roll
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sausage roll
14 If someone is on a roll, they are having great success which seems likely to continue.
INFORMAL
on a roll phrase usu v-link PHR
I made a name for myself and I was on a roll, I couldn't see anything going wrong.
15 If you say roll on something, you mean that you would like it to come soon, because you are looking forward to it.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL
roll on sth phrase PHR n (feelings)
Roll on the day someone develops an effective vaccine against malaria.
16 If something is several things rolled into one, it combines the main features or qualities of those things.
rolled into one phrase pl-n PHR, v-link PHR
This is our kitchen, sitting and dining room all rolled into one.
17
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to start the ball rolling
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ball
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heads will roll
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head roll back
1 phrasal verb To roll back a change or the power of something means to gradually reduce it or end it.
Environmentalists regard these moves as the government taking advantage of the national mood to roll back protective measures... V P n (not pron), Also V n P
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rollback
2 phrasal verb To roll back prices, taxes, or benefits means to reduce them.
(mainly AM)
One provision of the law was to roll back taxes to the 1975 level. V P n (not pron) roll in , roll into
1 phrasal verb If something such as money is rolling in, it is appearing or being received in large quantities.
INFORMAL usu cont
Don't forget, I have always kept the money rolling in. V P
2 phrasal verb If someone rolls into a place or rolls in, they arrive in a casual way and often late.
(mainly BRIT)
`I've made you late.'—`No that's all right. I can roll in when I feel like it.'... V P
The brothers usually roll into their studio around midday. V P n roll up
1 phrasal verb If you roll up your sleeves or trouser legs, you fold the ends back several times, making them shorter.
The jacket was too big for him so he rolled up the cuffs... V P n (not pron)
Walking in the surf, she had to roll her pants up to her knees. V n P
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rolled-up
2 phrasal verb If people roll up somewhere, they arrive there, especially in large numbers, to see something interesting.
INFORMAL Roll up, roll up, come and join The Greatest Show on Earth... V P
The first reporters rolled up to the laboratory within minutes. V P prep/adv
