roach

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈrōch 

plural roach also roaches

1

: a silver-green European freshwater cyprinid fish (Rutilus rutilus)

also : any of various related fishes (such as some shiners)

2

: any of several American freshwater sunfishes (family Centrarchidae)

roach

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a curved cut in the edge of a sail to prevent chafing or to secure a better fit

2

: a roll of hair brushed straight back from the forehead or side of the head

roach

3 of 4

verb

roached; roaching; roaches

transitive verb

1

: to cut so that the remainder stands upright

roach a horse's mane

2

: to cause to arch

specifically : to brush (the hair) in a roach

—often used with up

roach

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

: cockroach

2

: the butt of a marijuana cigarette

Examples of roach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whitmore Pest and Wildlife Control offers pest control services for spiders and other pests like roaches, flies, beetles, stinging insects, and more. —Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

The apartment was crawling with roaches and other bugs, swarming with flies and the carpets were soiled. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2024

Those violations included washing with a sanitizer that wasn’t at the appropriate strength, roach activity and a stop-sale on food due to temperature abuse. —Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2024

Here's how to get rid of roaches and keep them away. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English roche, from Anglo-French roche, rosse

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

by shortening

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing roach

• roach back
• roach clip

Kids Definition

roach

1 of 2 noun

ˈrōch 

plural roach also roaches

: any of various fishes including some sunfishes and shiners

roach

2 of 2 noun

: cockroach

Medical Definition

roach

noun

ˈrōch 

: cockroach