roast
B2Informal (when meaning 'criticize'), Formal/Neutral (culinary), Formal (celebratory event).
Definition
Meaning
To cook food, especially meat, by dry heat in an oven or over a fire.
To criticize or reprimand someone harshly (informal); to be very warm, to suffer from heat (informal); to honor someone with a ceremony of humorous speeches at a celebratory meal (roast dinner).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a culinary verb, but has strong metaphorical extensions into humour/criticism and sensation. Noun forms: 'a roast' (the meal or event), 'a roast' (a cut of meat). Adjective: 'roast' (cooked in this way).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun for a meal, 'Sunday roast' is predominant in UK; 'pot roast' (a specific braising method) is more common in US. The informal verb meaning 'to criticize' is equally common.
Connotations
In UK, 'roast' noun strongly connotes a traditional family meal (roast beef, Yorkshire pudding). In US, 'roast' as an event (comedy roast) is a very strong cultural connotation.
Frequency
The verb is high-frequency in both. The noun 'roast' (event) is more frequent in US media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SV (The meat is roasting)SVO (Roast the potatoes)SVOA (Roast the chicken for two hours)SVOprepO (They roasted him for his mistakes)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rule the roast (old-fashioned for 'be in charge')”
- “be roasted (be very hot/criticized)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The CEO was roasted in the press for the failed launch.'
Academic
Primarily literal (food science, history), or in media studies (comedy roasts).
Everyday
Very high frequency: cooking, describing weather ('I'm roasting!'), light criticism ('My mates roasted my new haircut').
Technical
Culinary arts, coffee production (roasting beans).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Shall we roast a joint of beef for Sunday?
- The comedian was mercilessly roasted by the panel.
American English
- Let's roast a turkey for Thanksgiving.
- He got completely roasted during his farewell roast.
adverb
British English
- The meat was served roast. (rare, poetic/old-fashioned)
American English
- The pig was cooked roast. (rare, poetic/old-fashioned)
adjective
British English
- I'll have the roast beef with all the trimmings.
- She bought a pack of roast peanuts.
American English
- He ordered the roast chicken salad.
- The smell of roast coffee filled the air.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like roast chicken.
- It is hot. I am roasting!
- We roast vegetables in the oven with oil.
- My friends roasted me when I fell over.
- The traditional Sunday roast is a beloved British custom.
- The critics roasted the director's latest film for its weak plot.
- The artisanal coffee beans are roasted in small batches to enhance their flavour profile.
- He agreed to be the guest of honour at a celebrity roast, knowing he'd face good-natured ridicule.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A GHOST can't eat, but it might ROAST you with criticism or haunt a ROAST dinner.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM IS COOKING/HEATING ('He got roasted.', 'She's feeling the heat.'), CELEBRATION IS A FEAST ('a celebrity roast').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'roast' (dry heat) as 'варить' (to boil). Use 'жарить в духовке'.
- The noun 'roast' (event) has no direct equivalent; it's a 'церемония с юмористическими тостами'.
- Don't confuse 'roast beef' (блюдо) with 'ростбиф' (in Russian, often refers to a sandwich).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will roast the soup.' (Use 'heat' or 'reheat').
- Incorrect: 'He roasted about his job.' (Use 'complained'). The verb requires an object when metaphorical: 'He roasted his boss/about his job.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'roast' NOT imply cooking with dry heat?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often similar, but 'roast' typically refers to larger pieces of meat or vegetables cooked uncovered, while 'bake' is for bread, cakes, and dishes like casseroles.
Yes: 1) a cooked piece of meat ('a beef roast'), 2) the meal itself ('a Sunday roast'), 3) a comedy event ('a celebrity roast').
Roasting uses ambient, indirect heat in an oven. Grilling/Broiling uses direct, high heat from above or below.
Yes, it's a common informal expression meaning 'I am very hot'. It is more emphatic than 'I'm hot'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Cooking
A2 · 50 words · Cooking methods, kitchen tools and recipes.