roar Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a deep prolonged loud noise
    thunder; roaring; boom.
  2. noun a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
    holla; bellow; hollo; yowl; holler; hollering; holloa; bellowing; roaring.
    • his bellow filled the hallway
  3. noun the sound made by a lion
  4. verb make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
    howl.
    • The wind was howling in the trees
    • The water roared down the chute
  5. verb utter words loudly and forcefully
    thunder.
    • `Get out of here,' he roared
  6. verb emit long loud cries
    wail; yawl; yaup; howl; ululate.
    • wail in self-pity
    • howl with sorrow
  7. verb act or proceed in a riotous, turbulent, or disorderly way
    • desperadoes from the hills regularly roared in to take over the town"-R.A.Billington
  8. verb make a loud noise, as of animal
    bellow.
    • The bull bellowed
  9. verb laugh unrestrainedly and heartily
    howl.

WordNet

Roar intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. roren, raren, AS. rarian; akin to G. röhten, OHG. rrn.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Roared ; present participle & verbal noun Roaring
Definitions
  1. To cry with a full, loud, continued sound. Specifically: (a) To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other beast.
    Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. Spenser.
    (b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger.
    Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief. Dryden.
    He scorned to roar under the impressions of a finite anger. South.
  2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like.
    The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar. Milton.
    How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar. Gay.
  3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
    It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. Bp. Burnet.
  4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as, the hearers roared at his jokes.
  5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2.
Roar transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly.
    This last action will roar thy infamy. Ford.
Roar noun
Definitions
  1. The sound of roaring. Specifically: (a) The deep, loud cry of a wild beast; as, the roar of a lion. (b) The cry of one in pain, distress, anger, or the like. (c) A loud, continuous, and confused sound; as, the roar of a cannon, of the wind, or the waves; the roar of ocean.
    Arm! arm! it is, it is the cannon's opening roar! Byron.
    (d) A boisterous outcry or shouting, as in mirth.
    Pit, boxes, and galleries were in a constant roar of laughter. Macaulay.

Webster 1913