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role

A role is a part you play. In school, you might take on the role of clown, in your family, the role of the responsible one, on stage, the role of Juliet.

Role can also mean job or function. It is the role of the police to keep the community safe, and political parties often argue about the role government should play in our lives. Roles can also be played by things. You can say that computers play an increasing role in our day-to-day lives and that the role of a hat is to keep your head warm. You look up to your role model because of the important role that they play in influencing others' lives.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: role

1	n	the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
2	n	an actor's portrayal of someone in a play

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: role

n the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

“play its role”

Synonyms:: function, office, part

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; capacity
a specified function; hat
an informal term for a person's role; portfolio
the role of the head of a government department; lieu, place, position, stead
the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another; second fiddle
a secondary role or function; behalf
as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as "on behalf of" rather than "in behalf of")

Type of:: duty
work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons

n normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting

“what is your role on the team?”

Types:: show 21 types...; hide 21 types...; gender role
the overt expression of attitudes that indicate to others the degree of your maleness or femaleness; position
(in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player; goalie, goalkeeper, goaltender, netkeeper
the defensive position on an ice hockey or soccer or lacrosse team who stands in front of the goal and tries to prevent opposing players from scoring; mound, pitcher
the position on a baseball team of the player who throws the ball for a batter to try to hit; catcher
the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws; first, first base
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate); second, second base
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield; short, shortstop
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed between second and third base; third, third base
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the third of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate); left field, leftfield
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the left third of the outfield (looking from home plate); center field, centerfield
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the central third of the outfield; right field, rightfield
the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the right third of the outfield (looking from home plate); forward
a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team; center
a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game; guard
a position on a basketball team; back
(American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage; lineman
(American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed on the line of scrimmage; mid-off
the fielding position in cricket closest to the bowler on the off side; mid-on
the fielding position in cricket closest to the bowler on the on side; center
the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game; cleanup, cleanup position, cleanup spot
(baseball) the fourth position in the batting order (usually filled by the best batter on the team)

Type of:: activity
any specific behavior

n what something is used for

Synonyms:: function, purpose, use

Types:: raison d'etre
the purpose that justifies a thing's existence

Type of:: usefulness, utility
the quality of being of practical use

n an actor's portrayal of someone in a play

Synonyms:: character, part, persona, theatrical role

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; bit part, minor role
a small role; heavy
a serious (or tragic) role in a play; hero
the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem; ingenue
the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play; name part, title role
the role of the character after whom the play is named; heroine
the main good female character in a work of fiction; baddie, villain
the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction; soubrette
a minor female role as a pert flirtatious lady's maid in a comedy

Type of:: characterization, enactment, personation, portrayal
acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture

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