ROOST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does roost mean? 

• ROOST (noun)
  The noun ROOST has 2 senses:

1. a shelter with perches for fowl or other birds

2. a perch on which domestic fowl rest or sleep

  Familiarity information: ROOST used as a noun is rare.

• ROOST (verb)
  The verb ROOST has 2 senses:

1. sit, as on a branch

2. settle down or stay, as if on a roost

  Familiarity information: ROOST used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ROOST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A shelter with perches for fowl or other birds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("roost" is a kind of...):

shelter (protective covering that provides protection from the weather)

Meronyms (parts of "roost"):

perch (support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "roost"):

henroost (a roost for hens at night)

Derivation:

roost (sit, as on a branch)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A perch on which domestic fowl rest or sleep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("roost" is a kind of...):

perch (support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird))

Derivation:

roost (sit, as on a branch)

• ROOST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they roost    ... he / she / it roosts   
Past simple: roosted   
Past participle: roosted   
-ing form: roosting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sit, as on a branch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

perch; rest; roost

Context example:

The birds perched high in the tree

Hypernyms (to "roost" is one way to...):

sit; sit down (be seated)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Some big birds roost in the tree
There roost some big birds in the tree

Derivation:

roost (a perch on which domestic fowl rest or sleep)

roost (a shelter with perches for fowl or other birds)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Settle down or stay, as if on a roost

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "roost" is one way to...):

root; settle; settle down; steady down; take root (become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

“But it is time young chickens went to roost when they dare cackle against their elders. It is late, Simon.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At ten o’clock I went round and saw that all the fellows had gone to roost, for I believe in strict training and plenty of sleep to keep a team fit.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

White Fang never raided a chicken-roost again.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

In fact, he seemed as much at home among the trees as on the ground; and Buck had memories of nights of vigil spent beneath trees wherein the hairy man roosted, holding on tightly as he slept.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

They availed themselves of the rare privilege to the fullest extent, for some tried the pleasing experiment of drinking milk while standing on their heads, others lent a charm to leapfrog by eating pie in the pauses of the game, cookies were sown broadcast over the field, and apple turnovers roosted in the trees like a new style of bird.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In the night-time, after they had gone to roost, he climbed to the top of a pile of newly hauled lumber.

(White Fang, by Jack London)