from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Roll \Roll\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rolled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Rolling}.] [OF. roeler, roler, F. rouler, LL. rotulare, fr.
L. royulus, rotula, a little wheel, dim. of rota wheel; akin
to G. rad, and to Skr. ratha car, chariot. Cf. {Control},
{Roll}, n., {Rotary}.]
1. To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by
turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn
over and over on a supporting surface; as, to roll a
wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
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2. To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or
cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as, to
roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or
putty into a ball.
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3. To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap;
-- often with up; as, to roll up a parcel.
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4. To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of
rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
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The flood of Catholic reaction was rolled over
Europe. --J. A.
Symonds.
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5. To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter
with a deep sound; -- often with forth, or out; as, to
roll forth some one's praises; to roll out sentences.
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Who roll'd the psalm to wintry skies. --Tennyson.
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6. To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a
roll, roller, or rollers; as, to roll a field; to roll
paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
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7. To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of,
rollers or small wheels.
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8. To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to
sound a roll upon.
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9. (Geom.) To apply (one line or surface) to another without
slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface)
into successive contact with another, in suck manner that
at every instant the parts that have been in contact are
equal.
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10. To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
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Full oft in heart he rolleth up and down
The beauty of these florins new and bright.
--Chaucer.
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{To roll one's self}, to wallow.
{To roll the eye}, to direct its axis hither and thither in
quick succession.
{To roll one's r's}, to utter the letter r with a trill.
[Colloq.]
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