roasted; roasting; roasts
1
a
: to cook by exposing to dry heat (as in an oven or before a fire) or by surrounding with hot embers, sand, or stones
roast a potato in ashes
b
: to process a raw coffee bean by drying, heating to temperatures typically between 380-450°F (190-230°C) for seven to twenty minutes, and quickly cooling to room temperature to achieve a desired level of roast (see roast entry 2 sense 3)
… roasting coffee brings out flavor, aroma, and character; it also evaporates moisture.—
Lisa Kolb Ruland
Lisa Kolb Ruland2
: to heat to excess
roasted by the summer sun
3
: to subject to severe criticism or ridicule
The film was roasted by critics and isn't fondly remembered …—John Fox
John Fox4
: to honor (a person) at a roast (see roast entry 2 sense 5)
5
metallurgy
: to heat (inorganic material) in air and without fusing (as to oxidize sulfides or eliminate volatile matter)
Zinc is refined from its ore by roasting finely crushed zinc blende … in a furnace.—Daniel A. Brandt
Daniel A. Brandt1
: to cook food by heat
Once you've tossed the potatoes in your chosen fat, you're ready to roast.—Fionnula Hainey
Fionnula Hainey2
: to undergo the process of being roasted
left the potatoes in the oven to roast
—often used figurativelyWe roasted in the stuffy classroom.
plural roasts
2
: a gathering at which food is roasted before an open fire or in hot ashes or sand
was invited to a pig roast
3
: the distinctive quality or character of a coffee bean that typically includes its darkness, aroma, and flavor and is determined by the degree of roasting (see roast entry 1 sense 1b)
The difference in coffee roasts is in their levels of oil, caffeine, and acidity.—Clark Nowlin
see also dark roast, light roast, medium roast
Clark Nowlin4
: an act or instance of severe banter or criticism
… did not hold back in his roast of Washington politics …, saving jabs for both parties.—Kaanita Iyer
Kaanita Iyer5
: a banquet honoring a person who is subjected to humorous tongue-in-cheek ridicule by friends
Tennis ace Boris Becker wasn't on the dais at the North Miami celebrity roast of aging bad boy Ilie Nastase, so he could observe the rites with a certain detachment.—Tim Allis
Tim AllisSynonyms
Examples of roast in a Sentence
Verb
The chicken is roasting in the oven.
We roasted the peanuts over the fire.
The peanuts roasted over the fire.
We were roasting in the hot sun.
The movie is being roasted by the critics.
Noun
She made a roast for dinner.
We're having pork roast for dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maggie Horton, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
If that doesn’t work, follow the method for roasting turkey from a frozen state, as mentioned above.
—Annie Krumhardt Peterson, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The goal of a good roast joke is to establish a clear target and hit it as accurately as possible.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024
Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2023
Thick slices of roast paan form a hearty base for a fuss-free sandwich eaten on the go.
—Vidya Balachander, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for roast 
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Verb
Ninja 4-in-1 Air Fryer While your oven is busy roasting the Thanksgiving turkey, turn to this air fryer to whip up the sides.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
If that doesn’t work, follow the method for roasting turkey from a frozen state, as mentioned above.
—Annie Krumhardt Peterson, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
The roast comic’s remark drew almost universal criticism from Democrats and several GOP lawmakers, while the Trump campaign sought to distance itself saying his jokes were not vetted.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The goal of a good roast joke is to establish a clear target and hit it as accurately as possible.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
There will be roast duck with flaky scallion tortillas in the style of fajitas and an onsite smoker turning out Chinese sticky ribs.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2023
Thick slices of roast paan form a hearty base for a fuss-free sandwich eaten on the go.
—Vidya Balachander, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for roast
Articles Related to roast
Dictionary Entries Near roast
Cite this Entry
“Roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roast. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roast
1 of 3 verb1
: to cook with dry heat (as in an oven)
2
: to be or make very hot
3
: to criticize severely in either a serious or joking way
roast
2 of 3 noun1
: a piece of meat roasted or suitable for roasting
2
: an outing at which food is roasted
3
: severe criticism or kidding
roast
3 of 3 adjective
: cooked by roasting
roast beef
roast pork
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