Roar v. i. [imp. & p. p. Roared p. pr. & vvb. n. Roaring.]
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.
Roaring bulls he would him make to tame. --Spenser.
(b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger.
Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief
Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief. --Dryden.
He scorned to roar under the impressions of a finite anger. --South.
2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like.
The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar. --Milton.
How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar. --Gay.
3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. --Bp. Burnet.
4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as, the hearers roared at his jokes.
5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2.
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.