roof

Everyday

1. A roof is the top covering of a building or vehicle. tree →
2. The roof of your mouth is the hard top part inside your mouth. tree →
3. A roof over your head means a place to live. tree →

In the lessons

In design and science, roofs keep out rain, snow and sun; sloping roofs let water run off; materials include tiles, slate, metal and thatch. In safety, never climb onto a roof; it is easy to fall. In stories, a chase across rooftops is exciting. Phrases: on the roof, roof of the mouth, hit the roof (get very angry), raise the roof (be very noisy), under one roof, a roof over your head.

Examples

• The cat is sitting on the roof. tree →
• Rain drummed on the roof all night. tree →
• The car has a sunroof. tree →
• The roof of the old barn leaked. tree →
• Mum hit the roof when she saw the mess. tree →
• Peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth. tree →
• Everyone was under one roof for the party. tree →
• The roof sloped nearly to the ground. tree →

Note

Plural roofs (not "rooves"). Compare: leaf/leaves but roof/roofs. A ball stuck on a roof should be fetched by an adult with proper ladders, never by a child.

In Jewish tradition

Roofs were flat in Israel and used as living space, so the Torah commands a parapet around the roof.

Interpretation. The rabbis took the parapet law as a duty to remove danger from one's home, and applied it to any hazard that could harm others.

Examples

• When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a parapet for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence. (Torah DEU.22.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; (Prophets JOS.2.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. (Writings JOB.29.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy. (Writings PSA.137.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural roofs (not "rooves"). Compare: leaf/leaves but roof/roofs. A ball stuck on a roof should be fetched by an adult with proper ladders, never by a child.