role

Everyday

1. A role is a part that an actor plays in a film, play or show. tree →
2. A role is a job, position or purpose someone or something has, like the role of a captain. tree →
3. A role is how important something is in a situation, as in "play a big role". tree →

In the lessons

In drama, pupils get roles in the school play and do role play to act out situations; in safety lessons, role play helps practise saying no. In science, things have roles (the role of the heart is to pump blood). In everyday life a role model is someone you look up to. Phrases: "play a role", "the lead role", "role play", "role model", "take on a role", "role reversal".

Examples

• I got the role of the wolf in the school play. tree →
• What is the role of the heart in the body? tree →
• My big sister is my role model. tree →
• In role play, we practised what to do if a stranger asks us to go with them. tree →
• Exercise plays an important role in staying healthy. tree →
• Her role in the team is goalkeeper. tree →
• Mum took on the role of class rep this year. tree →

Note

Countable: a role, roles. Homophone: roll (a bread roll, or to turn over and over). "Role" for a part; "roll" for movement or bread. Some old texts spell it "rôle".

In Jewish tradition

In drama, pupils get roles in the school play and do role play to act out situations; in safety lessons, role play helps practise saying no. In science, things have roles (the role of the heart is to pump blood). In everyday life a role model is someone you look up to. Phrases: "play a role", "the lead role", "role play", "role model", "take on a role", "role reversal".

Examples

• The text is intimately concerned with the role of language in the Work of Creation. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• In the above explained system of notation from which our system of notation originated, the principle of position (place value) plays an important role. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Countable: a role, roles. Homophone: roll (a bread roll, or to turn over and over). "Role" for a part; "roll" for movement or bread. Some old texts spell it "rôle".