Roast, a. [For roasted.]
Roasted; as, roast beef.
Roast (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Roasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Roasting.] [OE. rosten, OF. rostir, F.
rôtir; of German origin; cf. OHG. rōsten, G.
rösten, fr. OHG. rōst, rōsta,
gridiron, G. rost; cf. AS. hyrstan to roast.]
1. To cook by exposure to radiant heat before a
fire; as, to roast meat on a spit, or in an oven open toward
the fire and having reflecting surfaces within; also, to cook in a
close oven.
2. To cook by surrounding with hot embers,
ashes, sand, etc.; as, to roast a potato in ashes.
In eggs boiled and roasted there is scarce
difference to be discerned.
BAcon.
3. To dry and parch by exposure to heat; as,
to roast coffee; to roast chestnuts, or
peanuts.
4. Hence, to heat to excess; to heat
violently; to burn. "Roasted in wrath and fire."
Shak.
5. (Metal.) To dissipate by heat the
volatile parts of, as ores.
6. To banter severely. [Colloq.]
Atterbury.
Roast, v. i. 1. To
cook meat, fish, etc., by heat, as before the fire or in an
oven.
He could roast, and seethe, and broil, and
fry.
Chaucer.
2. To undergo the process of being
roasted.
Roast, n. That which is roasted; a
piece of meat which has been roasted, or is suitable for being
roasted.
A fat swan loved he best of any roost
[roast].
Chaucer.
To rule the roast, to be at the head of
affairs. "The new-made duke that rules the roast."
Shak.