noun Uncommon

roach

rohch

Roach (noun) means a small freshwater fish related to carp, common in European rivers and lakes. Example: “He spent the afternoon fishing for roach off the canal bank.”

noun

A small freshwater fish related to carp, common in European rivers and lakes.

"He spent the afternoon fishing for roach off the canal bank."

Slang for a cockroach.

"She screamed when a roach scuttled across the kitchen floor."

The small cardboard filter, or the leftover butt, of a rolled cigarette or joint.

"He rolled a bit of the cigarette packet into a roach for the joint."

How to use roach

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: a river fish, an informal word for cockroach, or the little cardboard tip in a rolled cigarette or joint.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "roach" the slang cockroach sense with the unrelated fish species — context (fishing vs. pest) makes it clear which is meant.

Word forms

roached past tense, roached past tense, roaches plural, roach plural, roaches plural, roaches plural, roaches plural, roaches singular, roaches singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He spent the afternoon fishing for _____ off the canal bank.

Etymology

From Old French roche, related to a Germanic word for "rough" — originally the name of a fish before being borrowed for the insect and, later, the joint filter.

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for roach

coach poach broach approach reproach cockroach Stagecoach

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Frequently asked questions

What does “roach” mean?

The word “roach” means a small freshwater fish related to carp, common in European rivers and lakes. In plain terms, depending on context: a river fish, an informal word for cockroach, or the little cardboard tip in a rolled cigarette or joint.

How do you pronounce “roach”?

“Roach” is pronounced rohch (/ɹoʊt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “roach” in a sentence?

Here is “roach” used in a sentence: “He spent the afternoon fishing for roach off the canal bank.”

What part of speech is “roach”?

“Roach” is a noun.

Where does the word “roach” come from?

The word “roach” comes from Old French. From Old French roche, related to a Germanic word for "rough" — originally the name of a fish before being borrowed for the insect and, later, the joint filter.

Is “roach” a common word?

“Roach” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “roach” have?

“Roach” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small freshwater fish related to carp, common in European rivers and lakes.