v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roared p. pr. & vvb. n. Roaring. ] [ OE. roren, raren, AS. rārian; akin to G. röhten, OHG. rērēn. √112. ] 1. To cry with a full, loud, continued sound. Specifically: (a) To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other beast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief
Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

He scorned to roar under the impressions of a finite anger. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as, the hearers roared at his jokes. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Roaring boy, a roaring, noisy fellow; -- name given, at the latter end Queen Elizabeth's reign, to the riotous fellows who raised disturbances in the street. “Two roaring boys of Rome, that made all split.” Beau. & Fl. --
Roaring forties (Naut.), a sailor's name for the stormy tract of ocean between 40° and 50° north latitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly. [ 1913 Webster ]

This last action will roar thy infamy. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The sound of roaring. Specifically: (a) The deep, loud cry of a wild beast; as, the roar of a lion. (b) The cry of one in pain, distress, anger, or the like. (c) A loud, continuous, and confused sound; as, the roar of a cannon, of the wind, or the waves; the roar of ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arm! arm! it is, it is the cannon's opening roar! Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) A boisterous outcry or shouting, as in mirth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pit, boxes, and galleries were in a constant roar of laughter. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, roars. Specifically: (a) A riotous fellow; a roaring boy. [ 1913 Webster ]

A lady to turn roarer, and break glasses. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) (Far.) A horse subject to roaring. See Roaring, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The barn owl. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A loud, deep, prolonged sound, as of a large beast, or of a person in distress, anger, mirth, etc., or of a noisy congregation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Far.) An affection of the windpipe of a horse, causing a loud, peculiar noise in breathing under exertion; the making of the noise so caused. See Roar, v. i., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Naut.) The middle latitudes of the southern hemisphere. So called from the boisterous and prevailing westerly winds, which are especially strong in the South Indian Ocean up to 50° S. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a roaring manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

The decade from 1920 to 1929; -- so called because of the occurrence of a prosperous economy and rapid changes in sociological mores as exemplified by speakeasies, the popularity of fast cars and jazz, and the boisterous unconventional behavior of young adults in that period. See also flapper, speakeasy, and second prohibition. [ PJC ]