From Middle English roren, raren, from Old English rārian (“to roar; wail; lament”), from Proto-West Germanic *rairōn, from Proto-Germanic *rairōną (“to bellow; roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *rey- (“to shout; bellow; yell; bark”), perhaps of imitative origin.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian roorje (“to roar”), German röhren (“to roar”).
Meanings
A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open.
The cry of the lion.
Tarzan could imagine how old Numa’s eyes were shining—how he was already sucking in his breath for the awful roar which would freeze his prey for the brief instant between the moment of the spring and the sinking of terrible fangs into splintering bones. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 120:
The Winkies were not a brave people, but they had to do as they were told. So they marched away until they came near to Dorothy. Then the Lion gave a great roar and sprang towards them, and the poor Winkies were so frightened that they ran back as fast as they could. 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
The deep cry of the bull.
A loud resounding noise.
I stand amid the roar / Of a surf-tormented shore, / And I hold within my hand / Grains of the golden sand— 1849 March 31, Edgar Allan Poe, “A Dream Within a Dream”, in The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe: […], volumes II (Poems and Miscellanies), New York, N.Y.: J. S. Redfield, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 40:
Those lovely valleys and mountains were filled throughout the day and night with the roar of heavy shooting. 1944, Ernie Pyle, Brave Men, University of Nebraska Press (2001), page 107
fr rugissement (cry of the lion) · la rudor (deep cry of the bull) · no brøl (long, loud, deep shout) · uk рича́ння (cry of the lion) · hi नाद (long, loud, deep shout) · nl brul (cry of the lion) · no brøl (cry of the lion) · el αλαλάζω (long, loud, deep shout) · es bramido (deep cry of the bull) · bg рев (cry of the lion) · ko 으르렁거리다 (long, loud, deep shout) · fi jyrinä (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · io bramo (cry of the lion) · uk рев (deep cry of the bull) · sv vrål (long, loud, deep shout) · ml ഗർജനം (cry of the lion) · az anqırtı (deep cry of the bull) · gl ruxido (long, loud, deep shout) · ru рыча́ние (cry of the lion) · ru рык (cry of the lion) · fi ärjäisy (long, loud, deep shout) · mi haruru (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · el βουίζω (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · ru рёв (deep cry of the bull) · it muggito (deep cry of the bull) · pt uivo (long, loud, deep shout) · de Aufheulen (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · no brøl (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · it ruggito (cry of the lion) · hi गरज (long, loud, deep shout) · la rudor (long, loud, deep shout) · es rugido (cry of the lion) · es rugido (long, loud, deep shout) · el αναφωνώ (long, loud, deep shout) · es bramido (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · it scroscio (long, loud, deep shout) · be роў (deep cry of the bull) · ca bram (cry of the lion) · bg вик (long, loud, deep shout) · fi ärjäisy (show of strength or character) · ru рыча́ние (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · mk рик (cry of the lion) · da brøl (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · bg бучене (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · de Tosen (long, loud, deep shout) · da brøl (long, loud, deep shout) · el μουρμουρίζω (long, loud, deep shout) · gl ruxido (cry of the lion) · pt rugido (cry of the lion) · io bramo (deep cry of the bull) · hi गर्जन (long, loud, deep shout) · ga géim (deep cry of the bull) · fa فریاد (long, loud, deep shout) · sh rika (long, loud, deep shout) · el φωνάζω (long, loud, deep shout) · ru вопль (long, loud, deep shout) · mi rarā (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · sv vrål (cry of the lion) · fi karjaisu (long, loud, deep shout) · fr vrombissement (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · tr kükreme (cry of the lion) · el μουργίζω (long, loud, deep shout) · mi horu (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · ru рёв (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · cs řev (cry of the lion) · ca rugit (cry of the lion) · ru рык (long, loud, deep shout) · ms aum (cry of the lion) · ur گونج (cry of the lion) · pl ryk (cry of the lion) · es bramido (long, loud, deep shout) · hi हुंकार (long, loud, deep shout) · fa غرش (cry of the lion) · es rugido (deep cry of the bull) · ga géim (cry of the lion) · sv dån (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · io bramo (long, loud, deep shout) · de Brüllen (cry of the lion) · la rudor (cry of the lion) · fa نعره (cry of the lion) · gl bramido (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · pl ryk (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · fa نعره (deep cry of the bull) · ru рык (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · da brøl (deep cry of the bull) · el βρυχηθμός (cry of the lion) · nl brul (long, loud, deep shout) · gl brúo (long, loud, deep shout) · grc βρύχημα (cry of the lion) · ms ngauman (cry of the lion) · cs řev (long, loud, deep shout) · fi mylvintä (deep cry of the bull) · io bramo (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · ar زَئِير (cry of the lion) · it ruggìto (cry of the lion) · pl ryk (long, loud, deep shout) · it rombo (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · eo roro (cry of the lion) · he שְׁאָגָה (long, loud, deep shout) · fi karjunta (cry of the lion) · ru рёв (long, loud, deep shout) · ga tormán (loud resounding noise such as sound of a motorbike or a similar engine) · ja 咆哮 (cry of the lion) · da brøl (cry of the lion) · el ουρλιάζω (long, loud, deep shout) · tl ungol (cry of the lion) · gl brúo (deep cry of the bull) · ml അലർച്ച (long, loud, deep shout)
From Middle English roren, raren, from Old English rārian (“to roar; wail; lament”), from Proto-West Germanic *rairōn, from Proto-Germanic *rairōną (“to bellow; roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *rey- (“to shout; bellow; yell; bark”), perhaps of imitative origin.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian roorje (“to roar”), German röhren (“to roar”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.
Hearing the rout,
Dame Gill came out,
With a horse whip from the door,
She laid it on Jack,
And poor Jill's back,
Until they both did roar. 1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 14:
Sole on the barren ſands the ſuff'ring chief / Roar'd out for anguiſh, and indulg'd his grief. a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 434:
To laugh in a particularly loud manner.
The audience roared at his jokes.
Of animals (especially a lion), to make a loud deep noise.
Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, , stanzas 6-7, page 14:
The lioness roared to scare off the hyenas.
Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise.
How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar. [1716], [John] Gay, “(please specify the page)”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC:
The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar. 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(figuratively) To proceed vigorously.
United's attempt to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 23 games this season looked to be in shreds as the Seasiders - managed by Ian Holloway - roared into a fully deserved two-goal lead at the interval. 2011 January 25, Phil McNulty, “Blackpool 2-3 Man Utd”, in BBC:
(transitive) To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly.
I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
This last action will roar thy infamy. 1639, John Ford, The Lady's Trial:
To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. 1724, Gilbert Burnet, History of My Own Time:
To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses do when they have a certain disease.
(Midlands, North, UK, Yorkshire, informal) To cry.
Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
Stole a pig, and away he run!
The pig was eat, and Tom was beat,
And Tom went roaring down the street. 1886, James Orchard Halliwell, “Third Class: Tales: LX”, in The Nursery Rhymes of England:
ro mugi (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · gl ruxir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · fr rire à gorge déployée (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · fi karjua (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · to ngungulu (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · uk гарча́ти (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · uk ревти́ (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · syc ܢܗܡܬܐ (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · fa خروشیدن (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · rar ngurunguru (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el βοώ (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · sh рикати (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · nl brullen (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · el ουρλιάζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · sa गर्जति (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ru рыча́ть (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el βρυχώμαι (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi haruru (to make a loud resounding noise) · es bramar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ro rage (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · bg викам (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · oc rugir (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ru реве́ть (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ty ʻuʻuru (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · cmn 怒吼 (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · lt riaumoti (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · be ры́каць (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi ulvoa (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · haw kūō (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · oc rugir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · grc βρυχάομαι (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · gl bramar (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fr s'esclaffer (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · gl ruxir (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · es rugir (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · be раўці́ (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi karjaista (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ro zbiera (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ar هَرْهَرَ (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · uk рича́ти (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi wawā (to make a loud resounding noise) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌾𐍉𐌽 (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · da brøle (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · it ruggire (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · io bramar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · lv rēkt (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi pararā (to make a loud resounding noise) · id mengaum (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el μουγκρίζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi karjua (to cry aloud; to proclaim loudly) · fi karjaista (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · de brüllen (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi haruru (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · sv ryta (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · bg хриптя (to make a loud noise in breathing) · be ры́каць (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · wa groûler (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi horu (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · mi rarā (to make a loud resounding noise) · sh rikati (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · cy rhuo (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el κακαρίζω (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · fr rire comme une baleine (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · el βρυχηθώ (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · es rugir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · uz qahqaha (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · mi pukukata (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · uk рика́ти (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · oc bramar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · la rudō (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · gsw brüele (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · sh riknuti (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · el φωνάζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · uk реві́ти (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi ärjäistä (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pl zaryczeć (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el κραυγάζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · io bramar (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pt uivar (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · io bramar (to make a loud resounding noise) · el βραχνιάζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pl ryczeć (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · pl ryczeć (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fr rugir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · gl ruxir (to make a loud resounding noise) · el βρυχιέμαι (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · haw kūwō (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · dsb ricaś (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · uk ревти́ (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · no brøle (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ka ღმუილი (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ar أَنَّ (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · oc bramar (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · it ruggire (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · pt rugir (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ga búir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ar قَهْقَهَ (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · bg буча (to make a loud resounding noise) · fr éclater de rire (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · fr rugir (to make a loud resounding noise) · el βρυχιέμαι (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · eo rori (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mpi swe (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ty ʻūʻuru (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · sh rikati (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el γελάω (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · sv ryta (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pl zaryczeć (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · it sganasciarsi dalle risate (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · fr rugir (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ka ღრიალი (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · uk реві́ти (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · bg рева (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · fi jyristä (to cry aloud; to proclaim loudly) · gl bruar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el ροχαλίζω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · mi ngunguru (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · dsb ricaś (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi kuohua (to be boisterous; to be disorderly) · fa غرش (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el τσιρίζω (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · fr hurler (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pt rugir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · fi karjahtaa (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi karjahtaa (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · fi rynnistää (to proceed vigorously) · ru рыча́ть (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · gl bramar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ja 吠える (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ca rugir (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ka ბრდღვენა (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · he שָׁאַג (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el βρυχώμαι (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi myrskytä (to be boisterous; to be disorderly) · de brüllen (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · be гы́ркаць (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · be раўці́ (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · oc cridar (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · vi gầm (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · sq gjëmoj (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · no brøla (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · cs řvát (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ka ღრიალი (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · cmn 咆哮 (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fr rire aux éclats (to laugh in a particularly loud manner) · tr kükremek (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ar زَأَرَ (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · grc βρυχάομαι (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · eo muĝi (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ro urla (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · cmn 吼 (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · uk рича́ти (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · mi horuhoru (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ru реве́ть (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ms mengaum (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · ckb نەڕاندن (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · el βογκάω (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · pt uivar (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · mi pararā (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · fi jyristä (to make a loud resounding noise) · ga géim (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · nl brullen (of animals, to make a loud deep noise) · el βρύχομαι (to make loud, deep cry of emotion) · ja 怒鳴る (to make loud, deep cry of emotion)