from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Roar \Roar\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Roared}; p. pr. & vvb. n.
{Roaring}.] [OE. roren, raren, AS. r[=a]rian; akin to G.
r["o]hten, OHG. r[=e]r[=e]n. [root]112.]
1. To cry with a full, loud, continued sound. Specifically:
(a) To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or
other beast.
[1913 Webster]
Roaring bulls he would him make to tame.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
(b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger.
[1913 Webster]
Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief
Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
He scorned to roar under the impressions of a
finite anger. --South.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing
vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or
the like.
[1913 Webster]
The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar.
--Gay.
[1913 Webster]
3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
[1913 Webster]
It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance.
--Bp. Burnet.
[1913 Webster]
4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as, the hearers
roared at his jokes.
[1913 Webster]
5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a
certain disease. See {Roaring}, 2.
[1913 Webster]
{Roaring boy}, a roaring, noisy fellow; -- name given, at the
latter end Queen Elizabeth's reign, to the riotous fellows
who raised disturbances in the street. "Two roaring boys
of Rome, that made all split." --Beau. & Fl.
{Roaring forties} (Naut.), a sailor's name for the stormy
tract of ocean between 40[deg] and 50[deg] north latitude.
[1913 Webster]