Roar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Roared; p. pr. & vvb. n. Roaring.]
Etymology: [OE. roren, raren, AS. rarian; akin to G. röhten, OHG. r. sq. root112.]
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.
2 more senses
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 40º and 50º north latitude.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
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.