roar

Etymology

From Middle English roren, raren, from Old English rārian (“to roar; wail; lament”), from Proto-West Germanic *rairēn, from Proto-Germanic *rairāną (“to bellow; roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *rey- (“to shout; bellow; yell; bark”), perhaps of imitative origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian roorje (“to roar”), German röhren (“to roar”).

verb

1. (intransitive) To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.
2. To laugh in a particularly loud manner.
   The audience roared at his jokes.
3. Of animals (especially a lion), to make a loud deep noise.
   The lioness roared to scare off the hyenas.
4. Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise.
5. (figurative) To proceed vigorously.
   United's attempt to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 23 games this season looked to be in shreds as the Seasiders - managed by Ian Holloway - roared into a fully deserved two-goal lead at the interval. January 25, 2011, Phil McNulty, “Blackpool 2-3 Man Utd”, in BBC
6. (transitive) To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly.
   This last action will roar thy infamy. 1639, John Ford, The Lady's Trial
   I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
7. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
   It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance. 1724, Gilbert Burnet, History of My Own Time
8. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses do when they have a certain disease.
9. (Britain Yorkshire, North Midlands, informal) To cry.
   Tom, Tom, the piper's son, Stole a pig, and away he run! The pig was eat, and Tom was beat, And Tom went roaring down the street. 1886, James Orchard Halliwell, “Third Class: Tales: LX”, in The Nursery Rhymes of England

noun

1. A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open.
2. The cry of the lion.
3. The deep cry of the bull.
4. A loud resounding noise.
   the roar of a motorbike
   Those lovely valleys and mountains were filled throughout the day and night with the roar of heavy shooting. 1944, Ernie Pyle, Brave Men, University of Nebraska Press (2001), page 107
5. A show of strength or character.