The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
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.
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.
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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To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
The flood of Catholic reaction was rolled over Europe.
--J. A. Symonds. -
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.
Who roll'd the psalm to wintry skies.
--Tennyson. 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.
To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
(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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To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Full oft in heart he rolleth up and down The beauty of these florins new and bright.
--Chaucer.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.