roast
rohst
Roast (verb) means to cook food, uncovered, with dry heat in an oven or over a fire, giving it a browned or crisped surface. Example: “She roasted the chicken with rosemary and lemon.”
verb
1
To cook food, uncovered, with dry heat in an oven or over a fire, giving it a browned or crisped surface.
"She roasted the chicken with rosemary and lemon."
"They roasted chestnuts over the open fire."
"I like to roast vegetables in the oven until their edges turn crisp."
2
To make fun of someone harshly, often as a form of affectionate ribbing or comedy.
"His friends roasted him mercilessly at his own birthday party."
"The comedians roasted each other in front of a laughing audience."
"Don't worry, we only roast people we really like."
noun
1
A cut of meat cooked by roasting, or a meal built around it.
"Sunday roast is a tradition in their house."
"Dad put a large roast in the oven just after lunch."
"We ate a lovely beef roast with potatoes and gravy."
2
A comedy event where a person is jokingly mocked and insulted by friends or colleagues.
"The retiring coach was the guest of honor at his own roast."
"Her friends organised a roast for her fortieth birthday, and everyone teased her."
"The team enjoyed the roast, though a few jokes made the guest of honour blush."
How to use roast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cook with dry heat, or to playfully mock someone in front of an audience.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
roast a chicken
get roasted
Sunday roast
comedy roast
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Word forms
- Plural
- roasts
- Third person singular
- roasts
- Past tense
- roasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the chicken with rosemary and lemon.
Etymology
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."
Related words
Rhymes for roast
See all rhymes for roast →Frequently asked questions
What does “roast” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “roast”?
“Roast” is pronounced rohst (/ɹoʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “roast” in a sentence?
Here is “roast” used in a sentence: “She roasted the chicken with rosemary and lemon.”
What part of speech is “roast”?
Depending on how it is used, “roast” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “roast” come from?
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.".
Is “roast” a common word?
“Roast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “roast” have?
“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.
What is the difference between roasting and baking?
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.
What is the difference between roasting and grilling?
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.
What is the difference between a comedy roast and a toast?
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.
Is it rude to "roast" someone?
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.
