Rotate vs. Roll: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 2, 2023
Rotate refers to moving in a circular motion around an axis, while roll means to move by turning over and over on an axis.
Key Differences
Rotate and roll, both denote movement but in distinct manners. To rotate implies turning around a central point in a circular motion, such as how the Earth rotates on its axis. It involves a pivotal motion where one part remains stationary, acting as the center, while the other parts move in a circular path around it. On the contrary, roll signifies the act of moving by turning over and over on an axis. It is akin to how a ball or wheel moves, where every part of the object sequentially comes into contact with the surface on which it moves.
In the realm of machinery and engineering, both rotate and roll have specific implications. For instance, in an engine, a shaft might rotate within its bearings. Here, it turns around its central longitudinal axis without shifting its position. Conversely, a car's tire doesn't just rotate around its axis; it also rolls along the ground, ensuring that the vehicle moves forward or backward.
From a linguistic point of view, rotate often implies a systematic or scheduled change. In professions or duties, when individuals rotate their roles, they take turns at a particular position or task. Roll, in a similar context, can be about a list or a register, like a classroom roll where names of students are listed, or when we say the "cameras are rolling," indicating the start of a recording.
In culinary contexts, rotate might mean turning food to ensure even cooking, such as rotating a chicken on a spit. Roll, however, can indicate the action of flattening or shaping something, like rolling dough into a flat circle. Both actions, while involving movement, have different outcomes and purposes.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Turning around a central point
Moving by turning over and over on an axis
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Mechanical Context
A shaft rotating within bearings
A car tire moving on the ground
Linguistic Use
Systematic or scheduled change
Referring to a list or the start of recording
Movement
Circular motion around a fixed point
Over and over motion along a surface
Culinary Context
Turning food for even cooking
Flattening or shaping something
Rotate and Roll Definitions
Rotate
To move in a circular pattern.
The fan rotates to circulate air evenly.
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Roll
To start a recording.
And... roll camera!
Rotate
To turn around a central point.
The Earth rotates on its axis.
Roll
To lurch or sway.
The ship began to roll in the stormy seas.
Rotate
To take turns in a role or position.
Nurses rotate shifts to ensure 24-hour care.
Roll
To move forward along a surface by revolving on an axis or by repeatedly turning over.
Rotate
To change the position by turning.
She had to rotate the puzzle piece to make it fit.
Roll
To travel or be moved on wheels or rollers
Rolled down the sidewalk on their scooters.
Rotate
To follow in a sequence or order.
We rotate crops to improve soil health.
Roll
To travel around; wander
Roll from town to town.
Rotate
To turn around on an axis or center.
Roll
To travel or be carried in a vehicle.
Rotate
To proceed in sequence; take turns or alternate
Interns will rotate through the various departments.
Roll
To be carried on a stream
The logs rolled down the cascading river.
Rotate
To cause to turn on an axis or center.
Roll
To start to move or operate
The press wouldn't roll.
Rotate
To plant or grow (crops) in a fixed order of succession.
Roll
To work or succeed in a sustained way; gain momentum
The political campaign finally began to roll.
Rotate
To cause to alternate or proceed in sequence
The coach rotates her players frequently near the end of the game.
Roll
To go by; elapse
The days rolled along.
Rotate
Having radiating parts; wheel-shaped.
Roll
To recur. Often used with around
Summer has rolled around again.
Rotate
(intransitive) To spin, turn, or revolve.
He rotated in his chair to face me.
The earth rotates.
Roll
To move in a periodic revolution, as a planet in its orbit.
Rotate
(intransitive) To advance through a sequence; to take turns.
The nurses' shifts rotate each week.
Roll
To turn over and over
The puppy rolled in the mud.
Rotate
To lift the nose during takeoff, just prior to liftoff.
The aircraft rotates at sixty knots.
Roll
To shift the gaze usually quickly and continually
The child's eyes rolled with fright.
Rotate
(transitive) To spin, turn, or revolve something.
Rotate the dial to the left.
Roll
To turn around or revolve on an axis.
Rotate
(transitive) To advance something through a sequence; to allocate or deploy in turns.
Roll
To move or advance with a rising and falling motion; undulate
The waves rolled toward shore.
Rotate
(transitive) To replace older materials or to place older materials in front of newer ones so that older ones get used first.
The supermarket rotates the stock daily so that old foods don't sit around.
Roll
To extend or appear to extend in gentle rises and falls
The dunes roll to the sea.
Rotate
(transitive) To grow or plant (crops) in a certain order.
Roll
To move or rock from side to side
The ship pitched and rolled in heavy seas.
Rotate
Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped.
A rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla
Roll
To walk with a swaying, unsteady motion.
Rotate
Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as, a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one.
Roll
(Slang) To experience periodic rushes after taking an intoxicating drug, especially MDMA.
Rotate
To turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve.
Roll
To take the shape of a ball or cylinder
Yarn rolls easily.
Rotate
To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as, to rotate in office.
Roll
To become flattened by pressure applied by a roller.
Rotate
To cause to turn round or revolve, as a wheel around an axle.
Roll
To make a deep, prolonged, surging sound
Thunder rolled in the distance.
Rotate
To cause to succeed in turn; esp., to cause to succeed some one, or to be succeeded by some one, in office.
Roll
To make a sustained trilling sound, as certain birds do.
Rotate
Turn on or around an axis or a center;
The Earth revolves around the Sun
The lamb roast rotates on a spit over the fire
Roll
To beat a drum in a continuous series of short blows.
Rotate
Exchange on a regular basis;
We rotate the lead soprano every night
Roll
To pour, flow, or move in a continual stream
Tourists rolling into the city.
Rotate
Cause to turn on an axis or center;
Rotate the handle
Roll
To enjoy ample amounts
Rolled in the money.
Rotate
Perform a job or duty on a rotating basis;
Interns have to rotate for a few months
Roll
To cause to move forward along a surface by revolving on an axis or by repeatedly turning over.
Rotate
Turn outward;
These birds can splay out their toes
Ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees
Roll
To move or push along on wheels or rollers
Rolled the plane out of the hangar.
Rotate
Plant or grow in a fixed cyclic order of succession;
We rotate the crops so as to maximize the use of the soil
Roll
To impel or send onward in a steady, swelling motion
The sea rolls its waves onto the sand.
Roll
To impart a swaying, rocking motion to
Heavy seas rolled the ship.
Roll
To turn around or partly turn around; rotate
Rolled his head toward the door.
Roll
To cause to begin moving or operating
Roll the cameras.
Roll the presses.
Roll
To extend or lay out
Rolled out a long rope.
Roll
To pronounce or utter with a trill
You must roll your r's in Spanish.
Roll
To utter or emit in full, swelling tones.
Roll
To beat (a drum) with a continuous series of short blows.
Roll
To wrap (something) round and round upon itself or around something else. Often used with up
Roll up a poster.
Roll
To envelop or enfold in a covering
Roll dirty laundry in a sheet.
Roll
To make by shaping into a ball or cylinder
Roll a cigarette.
Roll
To spread, compress, or flatten by applying pressure with a roller
Roll pastry dough.
Roll
(Printing) To apply ink to (type) with a roller or rollers.
Roll
(Games) To throw (dice), as in craps.
Roll
(Slang) To rob (a drunken, sleeping, or otherwise helpless person).
Roll
The act or an instance of rolling.
Roll
Something rolled up
A roll of tape.
Roll
A quantity, as of cloth or wallpaper, rolled into a cylinder and often considered as a unit of measure.
Roll
A piece of parchment or paper that may be or is rolled up; a scroll.
Roll
A register or a catalogue.
Roll
A list of names of persons belonging to a group.
Roll
A mass in cylindrical or rounded form
A roll of tobacco.
Roll
A small loaf of bread, portioned for one individual and often served as a side dish or appetizer or used to make a sandwich.
Roll
A portion of food wrapped around a filling
Cinnamon roll.
Sushi roll.
Roll
A rolling, swaying, or rocking motion.
Roll
A gentle swell or undulation of a surface
The roll of the plains.
Roll
A deep reverberation or rumble
The roll of thunder.
Roll
A rapid succession of short sounds
The roll of a drum.
Roll
A trill
The roll of his r's.
Roll
A resonant, rhythmical flow of words.
Roll
A roller, especially a cylinder on which to roll something up or with which to flatten something.
Roll
An amount of rotation around a longitudinal axis, as of an aircraft or boat.
Roll
A maneuver in which an airplane makes a single complete rotation about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude.
Roll
(Slang) Money, especially a wad of paper money.
Roll
(transitive) To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface.
To roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
Roll
(intransitive) To turn over and over.
The child will roll on the floor.
Roll
(intransitive) To tumble in gymnastics; to do a somersault.
Roll
(transitive) To wrap (something) round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over.
To roll a sheet of paper; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
Roll
(transitive) To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to enwrap; often with up.
To roll up the map for shipping.
Roll
(intransitive) To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball.
The cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
Roll
(ergative) To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling.
This river will roll its waters to the ocean.
Roll
(ergative) To utter copiously, especially with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; — often with forth, or out.
To roll forth someone's praises; to roll out sentences.
Roll
(transitive) To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers.
To roll a field;
To roll paste;
To roll steel rails.
Roll
(intransitive) To spread itself under a roller or rolling-pin.
The pastry rolls well.
Roll
(ergative) To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
Roll
To leave or begin a journey.
I want to get there early; let's roll.
Roll
To compete, especially with vigor.
OK guys, we're only down by two points. Let's roll!
Roll
(transitive) To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
Roll
(geometry) To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in such a manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
Roll
(transitive) To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Roll
To behave in a certain way; to adopt a general disposition toward a situation.
I was going to kick his ass, but he wasn't worth getting all worked up over; I don't roll like that.
Roll
To throw dice.
Roll
To roll dice such that they form a given pattern or total.
If you roll doubles, you get an extra turn.
With two dice, you're more likely to roll seven than ten.
Roll
(RPG) To create a new character in a role-playing game, especially by using dice to determine properties.
I'm gonna go and roll a new shaman tonight.
Roll
To generate a random number.
Roll
To rotate about the fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down. Compare pitch.
Roll
To travel by sailing.
Roll
(transitive) To beat up; to assault.
Roll
To cause to betray secrets or to testify for the prosecution.
The feds rolled him by giving him a free pass for most of what he'd done.
Roll
To betray secrets.
He rolled on those guys after being in jail two days.
Roll
To be under the influence of MDMA (a psychedelic stimulant, also known as ecstasy).
Roll
To (cause to) film.
The cameras are rolling.
It's time to roll the cameras.
Roll
To slip past (a defender) with the ball.
Roll
(intransitive) To have a rolling aspect.
The hills rolled on
Roll
To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution.
The years roll on.
Roll
(intransitive) To move, like waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
Roll
To move and cause an effect on someone
Roll
(intransitive) To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise.
The thunder rolled and the lightning flashed.
Roll
(transitive) To utter with an alveolar trill.
Many languages roll their r's.
Roll
To enrobe in toilet-paper (as a prank or spectacle).
The kids rolled the principal's house and yard.
Roll
(transitive) To create a customized version of.
Roll
2010, page 208, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Io7hHlVN3qQC&pg=PA208&dq=%22roll%22]
Roll
To engage in sparring in the context of jujitsu or other grappling disciplines.
Roll
To load ocean freight cargo onto a vessel other than the one it was meant to sail on.
Containers will be rolled to another mother vessel.
Roll
The act or result of rolling, or state of being rolled.
The roll of a ball
Look at the roll of the waves.
The roll of her eyes
Roll
A forward or backward roll in gymnastics; going head over heels. A tumble.
Roll
Something which rolls.
Roll
A heavy cylinder used to break clods.
Roll
One of a set of revolving cylinders, or rollers, between which metal is pressed, formed, or smoothed, as in a rolling mill.
To pass rails through the rolls
Roll
A swagger or rolling gait.
Roll
A heavy, reverberatory sound.
Hear the roll of cannon.
There was a roll of thunder and the rain began to pour down.
Roll
The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
The oscillating movement of a nautical vessel as it rotates from side to side, about its fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching; or the equivalent in an aircraft.
Roll
(nautical) The measure or extent to which a vessel rotates from side to side, about its fore-and-aft axis.
Roll
The rotation angle about the longitudinal axis.
Calculate the roll of that aircraft.
Roll
An instance of the act of rolling an aircraft through one or more complete rotations about its longitudinal axis.
The pilots entertained the spectators at the airshow by doing multiple rolls.
Roll
The act of, or total resulting from, rolling one or more dice.
Make your roll.
Whoever gets the highest roll moves first.
Roll
A winning streak of continuing luck, especially at gambling and especially in the phrase on a roll.
He is on a roll tonight.
Roll
A training match for a fighting dog.
Roll
An instance of the act of righting a canoe or kayak which has capsized, without exiting the watercraft, or being assisted.
That was a good roll.
Roll
(paddlesport) The skill of righting a canoe or kayak which has capsized, without exiting the watercraft, or being assisted.
She has a bombproof roll.
Roll
(finance) Any of various financial instruments or transactions that involve opposite positions at different expiries, "rolling" a position from one expiry to another.
Roll
That which is rolled up.
A roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
Roll
A document written on a piece of parchment, paper, or other materials which may be rolled up; a scroll.
Roll
An official or public document; a register; a record.
Roll
A catalogue or list, (especially) one kept for official purposes.
Several people sued the state after finding out that they'd been removed from the voter rolls for having died, despite their not actually being dead.
Roll
A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form.
A roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon
Roll
A cylindrical twist of tobacco.
Roll
A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself; see also bread roll.
Roll
(obsolete) A part; an office; a duty; a role.
Roll
A measure of parchments, containing five dozen.
Roll
To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface; as, to roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
Roll
To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as, to roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
Roll
To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap; - often with up; as, to roll up a parcel.
Roll
To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
The flood of Catholic reaction was rolled over Europe.
Roll
To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; - often with forth, or out; as, to roll forth some one's praises; to roll out sentences.
Who roll'd the psalm to wintry skies.
Roll
To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers; as, to roll a field; to roll paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
Roll
To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
Roll
To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
Roll
To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
Roll
To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Full oft in heart he rolleth up and downThe beauty of these florins new and bright.
Roll
To move, as a curved object may, along a surface by rotation without sliding; to revolve upon an axis; to turn over and over; as, a ball or wheel rolls on the earth; a body rolls on an inclined plane.
And her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls, and rolls, and rolls.
Roll
To move on wheels; as, the carriage rolls along the street.
Roll
To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball; as, the cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
Roll
To fall or tumble; - with over; as, a stream rolls over a precipice.
Roll
To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution; as, the rolling year; ages roll away.
Roll
To turn; to move circularly.
And his red eyeballs roll with living fire.
Roll
To move, as waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
What different sorrows did within thee roll.
Roll
To incline first to one side, then to the other; to rock; as, there is a great difference in ships about rolling; in a general semse, to be tossed about.
Twice ten tempestuous nights I rolled.
Roll
To turn over, or from side to side, while lying down; to wallow; as, a horse rolls.
Roll
To spread under a roller or rolling-pin; as, the paste rolls well.
Roll
To beat a drum with strokes so rapid that they can scarcely be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise; as, the thunder rolls.
Man shall not suffer his wife go roll about.
Roll
The act of rolling, or state of being rolled; as, the roll of a ball; the roll of waves.
Roll
That which rolls; a roller.
Roll
That which is rolled up; as, a roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
Busy angels spreadThe lasting roll, recording what we say.
Roll
Hence, an official or public document; a register; a record; also, a catalogue; a list.
The rolls of Parliament, the entry of the petitions, answers, and transactions in Parliament, are extant.
The roll and list of that army doth remain.
Roll
A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself.
Roll
A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form; as, a roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon.
Roll
The oscillating movement of a vessel from side to side, in sea way, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.
Roll
A heavy, reverberatory sound; as, the roll of cannon, or of thunder.
Roll
The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
Part; office; duty; rôle.
Roll
Rotary motion of an object around its own axis;
Wheels in axial rotation
Roll
A list of names;
His name was struck off the rolls
Roll
A long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore
Roll
Photographic film rolled up inside a container to protect it from light
Roll
A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
Roll
A roll of currency notes (often taken as the resources of a person or business etc.);
He shot his roll on a bob-tailed nag
Roll
Small rounded bread either plain or sweet
Roll
A deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
Roll
The sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously
Roll
A document that can be rolled up (as for storage)
Roll
Anything rolled up in cylindrical form
Roll
The act of throwing dice
Roll
Walking with a rolling gait
Roll
A flight maneuver; aircraft rotates about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude
Roll
The act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling)
Roll
Move by turning over or rotating;
The child rolled down the hill
Turn over on your left side
Roll
Move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle;
The President's convoy rolled past the crowds
Roll
Occur in soft rounded shapes;
The hills rolled past
Roll
Flatten or spread with a roller;
Roll out the paper
Roll
Emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound;
The thunder rolled
Rolling drums
Roll
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Roll
Begin operating or running;
The cameras were rolling
The presses are already rolling
Roll
Shape by rolling;
Roll a cigarette
Roll
Execute a roll, in tumbling;
The gymnasts rolled and jumped
Roll
Sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity
Roll
Move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion;
The curtains undulated
The waves rolled towards the beach
Roll
Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment;
The gypsies roamed the woods
Roving vagabonds
The wandering Jew
The cattle roam across the prairie
The laborers drift from one town to the next
They rolled from town to town
Roll
Move, rock, or sway from side to side;
The ship rolled on the heavy seas
Roll
Cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis;
She rolled the ball
They rolled their eyes at his words
Roll
Pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/;
She rolls her r's
Roll
Boil vigorously;
The liquid was seething
The water rolled
Roll
Take the shape of a roll or cylinder;
The carpet rolled out
Yarn rolls well
Roll
Show certain properties when being rolled;
The carpet rolls unevenly
Dried-out tobacco rolls badly
Roll
To move by turning over and over.
The ball began to roll down the hill.
Roll
To flatten or spread with a rolling pin.
She will roll the dough for the cookies.
Roll
A list or register.
The teacher checked the roll for absent students.
FAQs
What does "rotate shifts" imply?
It means workers take turns working different shift hours.
What does rotate mean?
Rotate means to turn around a central point in a circular motion.
How is roll used in filmmaking?
"Roll camera" indicates the start of filming or recording.
Can something both rotate and roll simultaneously?
Yes, like a car tire which rotates on its axis and rolls on the ground.
Can roll mean a list?
Yes, like a classroom roll where student names are listed.
What's the role of a rolling pin?
It's used to roll and flatten dough.
How is roll different from rotate?
Roll means to move by turning over and over on an axis.
Is rotation only in a horizontal plane?
No, rotation can occur in any plane around a central axis.
How does the Earth rotate?
The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east.
Why might a ship roll?
Due to waves and turbulence in water.
Why do chefs rotate food in the oven?
To ensure even cooking from all sides.
What's a crop rotation?
It's a method where different crops are planted in succession to improve soil health.
How do wheels function?
Wheels rotate on their axis and roll on surfaces to move vehicles.
What does "on a roll" mean?
It's an idiom meaning someone is having consistent success.
What's a roll call?
It's a reading aloud of a list of names to check presence.
Can "rotate" be used in technology?
Yes, like rotating a digital image or screen orientation.
Can rotation imply a scheduled change?
Yes, such as when employees rotate job roles.
Can roll mean movement in music?
Yes, like a drum roll which is a series of quick beats.
How do planets rotate?
Planets rotate on their axes, and the time taken for one complete rotation defines their day length.
Why do objects rotate?
They might be influenced by forces, like torque, causing them to turn around an axis.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
