Roar (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Roared (?); p. pr. & vvb. n.
Roaring.] [OE. roren, raren, AS.
rārian; akin to G. röhten, OHG.
r?r?n. √112.] 1. To cry with a
full, loud, continued sound. Specifically: (a)
To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other
beast.
Roaring bulls he would him make to
tame.
Spenser.
(b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or
anger.
Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief
Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief.
Dryden.
He scorned to roar under the impressions of a
finite anger.
South.
2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds,
waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or
the like.
The brazen throat of war had ceased to
roar.
Milton.
How oft I crossed where carts and coaches
roar.
Gay.
3. To be boisterous; to be
disorderly.
It was a mad, roaring time, full of
extravagance.
Bp. Burnet.
4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as,
the hearers roared at his jokes.
5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as
horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2.
Roaring boy, a roaring, noisy fellow; -- name
given, at the latter end Queen Elizabeth's reign, to the riotous
fellows who raised disturbances in the street. "Two roaring
boys of Rome, that made all split." Beau. & Fl. --
Roaring forties (Naut.), a sailor's name
for the stormy tract of ocean between 40° and 50° north
latitude.
Roar, v. t. To cry aloud; to
proclaim loudly.
This last action will roar thy
infamy.
Ford.Roar (?), n. The sound of
roaring. Specifically: (a) The deep, loud
cry of a wild beast; as, the roar of a lion.
(b) The cry of one in pain, distress, anger, or
the like. (c) A loud, continuous, and
confused sound; as, the roar of a cannon, of the wind, or the
waves; the roar of ocean.
Arm! arm! it is, it is the cannon's opening
roar!
Byron.
(d) A boisterous outcry or shouting, as in
mirth.
Pit, boxes, and galleries were in a constant
roar of laughter.
Macaulay.