[If the verb is from the noun, the sense is to dress or cook on a gridiron or grate, and rist, rost, coincide in elements with L. rastellum, a rake. If the verb is the root, the sense probably is to contract or crisp, or to throw or agitate, hence to make rough.]

1. To cook, dress or prepare meat for the table by exposing it to heat, as on a spit. In a bake-pan, in an oven or the like. We now say, to roast meat on a spit, in a pan, or in a tin oven, etc.; to bake meat in an oven; to broil meat on a gridiron.

2. To prepare for food by exposure to heat; as, to roast apples or potatoes; to roast eggs.

3. To heat to excess; to heat violently.

Roasted in wrath and fire.

4. To dry and parch by exposure to heat; as, to roast coffee.

5. In metallurgy, to dissipate the volatile parts of ore by heat.

6. In common discourse, to jeer; to banter severely.