roast

The word “roast” means to cook food, uncovered, with dry heat in an oven or over a fire, giving it a browned or crisped surface. In plain terms, to cook with dry heat, or to playfully mock someone in front of an audience.

“Roast” is pronounced rohst (/ɹoʊst/ in IPA).

Here is “roast” used in a sentence: “She roasted the chicken with rosemary and lemon.”

Depending on how it is used, “roast” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “roast” comes from Old French. From Old French rostir, "to roast or torture with fire," ultimately from a Germanic root — the comedic "roast" sense grew out of the idea of someone being figuratively "grilled.".

“Roast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Roast” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cook food, uncovered, with dry heat in an oven or over a fire, giving it a browned or crisped surface.

Both use dry heat in an oven, but roasting is generally used for meats and vegetables at higher temperatures to brown or crisp the surface. Baking usually refers to foods such as bread, cakes, and pastries, often at gentler temperatures.

Roasting surrounds food with dry heat, uncovered, in an oven or over a fire. Grilling cooks food directly over or under a concentrated heat source, usually more quickly and with more direct charring on one side at a time.

At a roast, friends or colleagues jokingly mock and insult the guest of honour for comedy. A toast, by contrast, honours and praises the person. A roast pokes fun; a toast pays tribute, though both are affectionate.

Usually not, when done in the right setting. Roasting someone means making fun of them harshly but as affectionate ribbing or comedy, often at an event held for that purpose. Tone and context matter, since the same words could sound cruel elsewhere.