Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A game of chance in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered (usually red and black) spaces. When the ball stops, it indicates the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: roly-poly
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An instance of risk-taking, especially when the downside exceeds the upside (contrary to the game of roulette where only the wager is lost).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A small toothed wheel used by engravers to roll over a plate in order to produce rows of dots.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A similar wheel used to roughen the surface of a plate, as in making alterations in a mezzotint.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The locus of a point on a plane curve that rolls without slipping along another fixed plane curve.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any of the small incisions on a sheet of stamps, used as an alternative to perforations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, philately
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A cylindrical curler for the hair.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To separate or decorate by incisions made with a small toothed wheel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a gambling game in which players bet on which compartment of a revolving wheel a small ball will come to rest in
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: game of chance, gambling game
noun
a wheel with teeth for making a row of perforations
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: toothed wheel
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: wheel
noun
a line generated by a point on one figure rolling around a second figure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: line roulette
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: curve, curved shape
Narrower terms: cycloid, epicycloid, hypocycloid
History
Borrowed from French roulette (“roulette, little wheel”). The sense "situation with a random chance of incurring serious harm" may be abstracted from Russian roulette.
Across languages
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
