roof [roofroofsrooves] noun, verb BrE [ruːf] NAmE [ruːf] noun (pl. roofs) 1. the structure that covers or forms the top of a building or vehicle •a flat/sloping roof •a thatched/slate, etc. roof • The corner of the classroom was damp where the roof had leaked. • Tim climbed on to the garage roof. •The roof of the car was not damaged in the accident. see also ↑sunroof 2.-roofed (in adjectives)having the type of roof mentioned •flat-roofed buildings 3. the top of an underground space such as a tunnel or ↑cave •The roof of the tunnel was starting to collapse. •The cave had a very low roof. 4.~ of your mouth the top of the inside of your mouth more at hit the ceiling/roof at ↑hitv., raise the roof at ↑raisev.
Word Origin: Old English hrōf, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse hróf ‘boat shed’, Dutch roef ‘deckhouse’. English alone has the general sense ‘covering of a house’; other Germanic languages use forms related to thatch.
Example Bank: •Five people were killed when the roof fell in. •I won't have that man under my roof again! •The burglars removed tiles to climb into the roof space. •The hotel has a charming roof garden. •The roof is supported by stone columns. •The roof slopes down to the top of the windows. •The roof was covered with red clay tiles. •There are small windows in the roof. •There's a cat on the roof. •We're good friends but we could never live under the same roof. Idioms: ↑go through the roof▪ ↑have a roof over your head▪ ↑under one roof▪ ↑under the same roof▪ ↑under your roof
verb often passive to cover sth with a roof; to put a roof on a building •~ sth (in/over) The shopping centre is not roofed over. •~ sth with/in sth Their cottage was roofed with green slate. Verb forms:
Word Origin: Old English hrōf, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse hróf ‘boat shed’, Dutch roef ‘deckhouse’. English alone has the general sense ‘covering of a house’; other Germanic languages use forms related to thatch.
