roll

/rəʊl/ (bre, ipa) · /rəʊl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrōl/ (ame, mw) · /roʊl/ (ame, ipa)

roll — 動詞

1. to change position across the ground by spinning, so that the leading and traili

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

滾動

沿地面旋轉移動

to change position across the ground by spinning, so that the leading and trailing parts of a round object, or the head and feet of a person, repeatedly swap places while moving in a given direction.

例句

Emre watched the orange ball roll down the hill and into the street.

Emre 看著那顆橘色的球滾下山坡,滾到了街上。

roll + adv/prep: down + into

The children took turns to roll a large tyre across the field.

孩子們輪流把一個大輪胎滾過操場。

transitive: roll + noun + adv/prep

同義詞
  • tumble

    implies falling awkwardly, not necessarily on purpose

  • spin

    focuses on rotation itself, not necessarily forward motion

文法句型

roll + adv/prep

roll + noun + adv/prep

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a preposition or adverb (down, off, across, onto) that specifies direction. The intransitive form describes the object's own motion; the transitive form means someone causes the motion.

常見錯誤

The ball rotated down the hill.
The ball rolled down the hill.
💡'rotate' means spin in place; 'roll' means spin and move across a surface.

2. to move ahead in a smooth, even way without jerks or halts — like a car coasting

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

平順移動

平穩順暢地前進

to move ahead in a smooth, even way without jerks or halts — like a car coasting downhill, water running in a channel, or smoke drifting on the breeze.

例句

Jin rolled his suitcase along the platform to reach the train.

Jin 拉著行李廂沿著月臺走向火車。

transitive: roll + noun + along

Thick fog rolled across the valley after the sun went down.

太陽下山後,濃霧滾滾地湧進山谷。

intransitive + adv/prep (fog as subject)

同義詞
  • glide

    implies silent, effortless motion; more literary

  • flow

    used for liquids or crowds, not wheeled vehicles

文法句型

roll + adv/prep

roll + noun + adv/prep

用法筆記

Subject is often a vehicle, a body of water, fog or smoke, or tears. Unlike sense 1, there is no turning over; the entire object glides or flows as a whole.

常見錯誤

The car rolled over down the driveway.
The car rolled down the driveway.
💡'roll over' means turning onto its side (an accident); smooth movement is just 'roll'.

3. to lean repeatedly from one side to the other and back again, describing the mov

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

搖晃

船或飛機左右搖擺

to lean repeatedly from one side to the other and back again, describing the movement of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle when pushed by wind or waves.

例句

The ship rolled heavily as the storm broke over the deck.

暴風雨襲擊甲板時,船身劇烈地左右搖晃。

intransitive: ship rolls in bad weather

The small plane began to roll from side to side in the strong wind.

那架小飛機在強風中開始左右搖晃。

roll from side to side

同義詞
  • rock

    gentler motion, used for smaller boats or chairs

  • sway

    slower, more controlled side-to-side motion

文法句型

roll (with no object — describes the vehicle)

用法筆記

Distinct from 'pitch' (front-to-back tilt) and 'yaw' (left-right swivel of the nose). Only 'roll' describes side-to-side leaning. Common in weather reports and travel stories.

常見錯誤

The boat rolled forward in the water.
The boat rolled from side to side in the water.
💡this sense describes side-to-side motion, not forward movement.

4. to begin functioning or moving, especially of cameras, printing equipment, or pr

4.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

啟動

機器開始運轉

to begin functioning or moving, especially of cameras, printing equipment, or production lines; or to cause such equipment to start.

例句

The camera crew started rolling the moment the actor spoke.

演員一開口說話,攝影組就開始拍攝。

transitive: roll a camera = start filming

The printing press was already rolling by the time I arrived.

我到達的時候,印刷機已經在運轉了。

intransitive: machine rolls = is running

同義詞
  • start

    more general, does not imply continuous operation

  • run

    focuses on the state of operating, not the start

反義詞

文法句型

roll (machine as subject)

roll + noun (start the machine)

用法筆記

Common in film production ('rolling' = the camera is recording). Also used for any industrial or mechanical process. 'Get rolling' is a fixed informal phrase meaning 'start'.

5. to move your eyes upward in a circular motion as a way of showing that you find

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

翻白眼

向上轉動眼球表示不屑

to move your eyes upward in a circular motion as a way of showing that you find something or someone stupid, annoying, or not worth taking seriously.

例句

Felipe rolled his eyes when his friend told the same joke again.

朋友又講了同一個笑話,Felipe 翻了翻白眼。

roll + possessive + eyes + at/about [trigger]

Kemi rolled her eyes at her brother's silly excuse for being late.

Kemi 聽了她哥哥蹩腳的遲到理由,翻了個白眼。

文法句型

roll + possessive + eyes

用法筆記

The object is always a possessive determiner + 'eyes' ('my eyes', 'his eyes', 'their eyes'). The phrase is informal and often considered rude in formal settings. Cannot be used with a different body part.

常見錯誤

She rolled her head at his comment.
She rolled her eyes at his comment.
💡only eyes can be 'rolled' in this sense.

6. to turn or wind a flat, flexible object over itself repeatedly so that it become

6.動詞及物B1
釋義

捲起;包捲

將扁平物體捲成管狀或球狀

to turn or wind a flat, flexible object over itself repeatedly so that it becomes a tube, ball, or neat bundle, or to cover something by wrapping it in this way.

例句

Théo rolled his wet towel into a tight ball before packing it.

Théo 把濕毛巾緊緊捲成一團,然後放進包包裡。

roll + noun + into a ball/tube

Christopher rolled up his sleeves and began to knead the dough.

Christopher 捲起袖子,開始揉麵團。

roll up = fold upward (clothing)

同義詞
  • coil

    implies winding around a central point, like a hose

  • fold

    bending flat, not forming a cylinder or ball

反義詞
  • unroll

    to open out something that was rolled up

文法句型

roll + noun + up/down/into

roll + noun + adv/prep

用法筆記

Often used with particles: 'roll up' (fold upward, as with sleeves or blinds), 'roll into' (form into a ball or cylinder), 'roll out' (unfurl, the opposite action). Sense 6 contrasts with sense 1 because the object does not travel across a surface — instead it changes shape.

常見錯誤

She rolled the map to see the details.
She unrolled the map to see the details.
💡'roll up' means to make it compact; 'unroll' means to open it flat.

7. to create a cigarette by placing a small amount of tobacco on a thin paper, then

7.動詞及物B1
釋義

捲菸

用紙將菸草捲成管狀

to create a cigarette by placing a small amount of tobacco on a thin paper, then wrapping and twisting the paper closed by hand

例句

At the party, Bao showed his cousin how to roll a cigarette with one hand.

派對上,Bao 單手教表弟如何捲菸。

roll + cigarette (the making, not the smoking)

Naoko bought rolling papers from the corner shop but had trouble rolling them neatly.

Naoko 在雜貨店買了捲菸紙,但一直捲不整齊。

同義詞
  • make

    more general; 'roll' specifies the hand-made method with paper

  • hand-roll

    less common; used specifically to contrast with machine-made

文法句型

roll + cigarette

用法筆記

Object is always 'a/one's cigarette' or a closely related noun like 'one's own'. Not used for machine-made cigarettes.

常見錯誤

He rolled the cigarette between his fingers.
He rolled a cigarette with tobacco and paper.
💡The first sentence describes turning an existing cigarette, not making one.

8. to shorten a sleeve, trouser leg, or similar garment item by turning its lower e

8.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

折起;挽起

將衣物邊緣摺疊使變短

to shorten a sleeve, trouser leg, or similar garment item by turning its lower edge upward and pressing the folded material against itself

例句

Nellie rolled up the sleeves of her shirt before washing the dishes.

Nellie 在洗碗前把襯衫袖子捲起來。

roll up + clothing item

Lan rolled the cuffs of his trousers to keep them dry in the puddles.

Lan 把褲管捲起來,以免踩到水坑弄濕。

同義詞
  • fold

    more general; 'roll' implies a tighter, more cylindrical fold

  • turn up

    British English; common for trousers or sleeves

反義詞
  • unroll

    to open out what was folded

文法句型

roll + up + noun phrase

roll + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

Often used with the particle 'up'. The intransitive form is less common and usually needs an adverb like 'well' or 'easily'.

常見錯誤

I rolled my sleeve' (when meaning you folded the edge).
I rolled up my sleeve.
💡The particle 'up' is standard for this sense.

9. to press and flatten a surface by moving a heavy cylindrical object such as a ro

9.動詞及物B1
釋義

輾平;壓平

用滾筒或擀麵棍壓平表面

to press and flatten a surface by moving a heavy cylindrical object such as a roller or rolling pin over it

例句

After spreading the dough, Layla rolled it flat with a wooden pin.

Layla 把麵團攤開後用木棍壓平。

roll + dough + flat (resultative adjective)

The groundskeeper rolled the cricket pitch to make it smooth for the match.

場地管理員把板球場輾平,讓比賽場地更平整。

同義詞
  • flatten

    more general; 'roll' specifies the tool and action

  • press

    less specific about the tool; can use hands or other objects

文法句型

roll + noun phrase + flat/out

用法筆記

Frequently used with a resultative adjective such as 'flat', 'thin', or 'level' to describe the outcome of pressing.

常見錯誤

I rolled the dough flatly.
I rolled the dough flat.
💡'Flat' is a resultative adjective, not an adverb.

10. to produce deep, low-pitched noise that lasts for several moments and changes in

10.動詞不及物B2
釋義

轟鳴;隆隆響

發出低沉持續的共鳴聲

to produce deep, low-pitched noise that lasts for several moments and changes in volume, such as thunder moving across the sky or a large drum being struck repeatedly

例句

Thunder rolled across the valley as the storm approached the village.

雷聲在山谷中轟鳴,暴風雨逐漸逼近村莊。

roll + across/through [location]

In the temple courtyard, the great drums rolled slowly during the ceremony.

寺廟的庭院裡,大鼓在儀式中緩慢地隆隆作響。

同義詞
  • rumble

    lower and more continuous; less about the build-and-fade quality

  • reverberate

    more formal; emphasises an echo or reflection of sound

文法句型

roll + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

Subject is usually a natural or artificial sound source such as thunder, drums, cannons, or an echo. The sound is continuous and low-pitched, not sharp or short.

常見錯誤

The bell rolled loudly.
The drums rolled loudly.
💡Bells ring or chime, they do not 'roll'.

11. to say the letter 'r' with a vibrating tongue tip that touches the area just beh

11.動詞及物B2
釋義

發顫音

舌尖快速振動發出顫抖的 r 音

to say the letter 'r' with a vibrating tongue tip that touches the area just behind the upper teeth, creating a rapid trembling sound

例句

In Spanish class, Mr. Rodríguez taught Saira how to roll her r's.

西班牙語課上,Rodríguez 老師教 Saira 如何發顫音 r。

roll + possessive + r's (standard pattern)

When speaking Italian, you must roll the r sound in words like 'carro'.

說義大利語時,像 'carro' 這類單字需要發顫音 r。

同義詞
  • trill

    the technical linguistic term; less common in everyday speech

文法句型

roll + possessive + r's

用法筆記

Only used with the letter 'r' (or 'r's') as the object. Cannot be used with other letters. The trilled 'r' is common in languages such as Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Scottish English.

常見錯誤

She rolled her l's in French.
She rolled her r's in Spanish.
💡The trill applies only to the 'r' sound, not other consonants.

roll — 名詞