- role
- roleW3 [rəul US roul] n[Date: 1600-1700; : French; Origin: rôle 'roll, role', from Old French rolle; ROLL2]1.) the way in which someone or something is involved in an activity or situation, and how much influence they have on itrole in▪ the role of diet in the prevention of disease▪ Everyone had a role in the show's success.▪ Scientists can also play a role in improving energy efficiency in their laboratories.▪ Parents play an important role in their child's learning.▪ His interest in education was reflected in his active role in founding University College, Liverpool.▪ The state has a dual role : to support business on the one hand and to be the guardian of social welfare on the other.▪ a student who has taken a leadership role in battling racism on campus2.) the character played by an actor in a play or film= ↑part▪ Matthews plays the role of a young doctor suspected of murder.a minor/major role▪ Costner only plays a minor role in the movie.the lead/leading/starring role(=the most important role)▪ Rigby was cast in the leading role.title role(=the role of the character whose name is in the title of a film or play)▪ 'Martin Chuzzlewit' features Paul Scofield in the title role.3.) role reversala situation in which two people, especially a man and a woman, each do what is traditionally expected of the other▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1have/play a role in (doing) somethingan important/key/vital/crucial rolea leading/major/central rolean active rolea dual role (=two functions)take a role▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.