English noun: role | |||
1. | role (act) the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group | ||
Samples | The function of a teacher. The government must do its part. Play its role. | ||
Synonyms | function, office, part | ||
Broader (hypernym) | duty | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | capacity, hat, lieu, place, portfolio, position, second fiddle, stead | ||
2. | role (cognition) an actor's portrayal of someone in a play | ||
Samples | She played the part of Desdemona. | ||
Synonyms | character, part, persona, theatrical role | ||
Broader (hypernym) | characterization, enactment, personation, portrayal | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | baddie, bit part, heavy, hero, heroine, ingenue, minor role, name part, title role, villain | ||
3. | role (attribute) what something is used for | ||
Samples | The function of an auger is to bore holes. Ballet is beautiful but what use is it?. | ||
Synonyms | function, purpose, use | ||
Broader (hypernym) | usefulness, utility | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | raison d'etre | ||
Attribute | functional, nonfunctional | ||
4. | role (act) normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting | ||
Samples | What is your role on the team?. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | activity | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | gender role, position | ||