{
    "term": "role",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an actor’s part in a play, film, etc.",
            "sensetop": "the role of somebody",
            "labels": "(British English)(North American English)(British English)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She has landed **the lead role ***(= the most important one)* in a new play."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **leading/starring role**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **played the role** of Sonny in ‘The Godfather’.",
                    "contextForm": "the role of somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ethan Hawke does a solid job in a thankless role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has the starring role in the movie."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was very good in the role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the series, Smith assumes the role of the go-between."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It took her three years to land her first film role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lee began to get big roles in movies."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most of the original cast are reprising their roles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She interprets the role as more tragic than I expected."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She sings the title role in Tosca."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The supporting roles are filled by British actors."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is the plum role in the play."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Walken carefully underplays the role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a starring female role"
                },
                {
                    "text": "one of his stereotypical action hero roles"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the chance to sink her teeth into the meaty role of femme fatale Margaret"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Playing the role of Hamlet is an immense challenge for the actor."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is one of the greatest roles she has played."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Film and theatre"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["lead", "leading", "starring"],
                "verb + role": ["assume", "perform", "play"],
                "preposition": ["in the role (of)"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the function or position that somebody has or is expected to have in an organization, in society or in a relationship",
            "sensetop": "role in somethingrole as somebody",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the changing role of women"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the artist's role in society",
                    "contextForm": "role in something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is stepping down from his role as chair.",
                    "contextForm": "role as somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I welcome the opportunity to **assume a leadership role **within the organization."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In many marriages there has been a complete **role reversal** *(= change of roles)* with the man staying at home and the woman going out to work."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is important that everyone has clearly defined **roles and responsibilities**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Every member of staff must have a clear role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He assumed a conspicuous role at the new arts agency."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He filled several governmental roles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has been cast in the role of chief apologist for the government."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is looking for ways to strengthen his role in the business."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is trying to carve out a new role for himself."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He may have to settle for a backup role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He really wants to fulfil his role as godfather properly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I accepted the executive editor role at the magazine."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I feel I can fit any role this team needs me to."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've had to take on the role of mother in her absence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many staff perform multiple roles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She embraced her role as ruler of the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has a dual role as principal and French teacher."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has joined the team in a consultative role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Supervising elections is a possible role for the UN."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The caregiving role is still overwhelmingly a female one."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The fighting has prevented the UN troops from fulfilling their role as peacekeepers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new prime minister promised a greater role for women in government."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their brother plays a protective role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They have to be willing to accept their roles as caregivers and not managers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Traditional gender roles are reversed in their household."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are waiting to see if he can handle an expanded role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to find a useful role for the volunteers in the campaign."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will meet with them to determine individual roles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the views prevalent in society about female roles"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She refused to take on the traditional woman's role."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the role of the teacher in the classroom"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "huge", "large"],
                "verb + role": ["have", "occupy", "perform"],
                "role + noun": ["model", "reversal", "expectation"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the role", "role as", "role at"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the degree to which somebody/something is involved in a situation or an activity and the effect that they have on it",
            "sensetop": "role in doing somethingrole in somethingrole of somebody/something in somethingrole as somethingrole of somebody/something as something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "A cup of tea often serves **an important** social **role**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **key/leading/central/crucial/vital role**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The media **play a major role** in influencing people's opinions.",
                    "contextForm": "role in doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Small businesses have a **significant role to play** in keeping the economy buoyant."
                },
                {
                    "text": "UK scientists have **taken a lead role** in the project.",
                    "contextForm": "role in something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the role of diet in the prevention of disease",
                    "contextForm": "role of somebody/something in something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company has cemented its role as a leader in the industry.",
                    "contextForm": "role as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Thomas downplays the role of these letters as historical evidence.",
                    "contextForm": "role of somebody/something as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Economic factors played a decisive role in the outcome of the war."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He addressed the role of tradition in design."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Migrant workers played a central role in the state's prosperity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Politicians acknowledge the key roles that young people play in the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Pressure groups played a major role in bringing about the reforms."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The authors emphasized the role of the slave trade in the economic development of the New World."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They decided to expand the role that new technologies play at the hospital."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to better understand the role of cold regions in the global climate system."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an area where national rivalries play a powerful role"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the economic role of small towns"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "huge", "large"],
                "verb + role": ["have", "occupy", "perform"],
                "role + noun": ["model", "reversal", "expectation"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the role", "role as", "role at"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rəʊl/",
                "audio": "ro/role/role__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rəʊl/",
                "audio": "ro/role/role__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "early 17th cent.: from obsolete French roule ‘roll’, referring originally to the roll of paper on which the actor's part was written."
}