role

Pronunciation

• enPR: rōl
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /rəʊl/ or [rʷɒʊɫ]
• (US) IPA ^(key): /rol/ or /roʊl/ or [rʷoʊɫ]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: roll

Noun

Singular role

Plural roles

1. (countable) The role of a person or thing is the job that they do in a certain situation.

   In the past twenty-five years the role of women on farms had changed dramatically.

   Music plays an important role in the movie.

2. role is another word for a part in a theatrical work such as a play or a ballet

   Tamara Karsavina was the first to dance the role of the Firebird.

   I was cast in the role of the crazy old witch in the school play.