How Do You Spell ROOST?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈuːst] (IPA)

The word "roost" is spelled with a combination of the rhotic consonant /r/, followed by the short vowel sound /u/, and the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ruːst/. Roost refers to a place where birds go to rest or sleep, often in a high perch. This word is commonly used in ornithology and birdwatching, and can also be used metaphorically to describe a place where people gather or congregate.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
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ROOST Meaning and Definition

  1. Roost is a noun that refers to a place where birds or bats gather for rest or sleep. It typically describes a place of shelter, such as a tree branch, ledge, or hollowed-out space, where birds can perch and settle for the night. Roosts are crucial for birds as they provide safety from predators and inclement weather, enabling them to conserve energy and restore their strength.

    As a verb, roost describes the action of settling or perching, especially during the night, when birds find a suitable place to rest. This activity is particularly common among birds that are primarily active during the day, as they seek a secure location to sleep. Birds often return to the same roosting spot each night, creating a designated area for their sleep and establishing a sense of familiarity and safety.

    The concept of roost is not exclusively limited to birds; it can also apply to bats, which tend to gather in large numbers in caves, abandoned buildings, or other secluded places during the day for sleep and protection.

    Additionally, roost can be used metaphorically to describe a place where people regularly assemble or gather, although this usage is less common.

  2. • The pole or perch on which a bird settles itself to rest.
    • To sit or sleep on the branch of a tree, or any other thing, as a bird at night.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for ROOST

Etymology of ROOST

The word "roost" derives from the Middle English word "rost" (or "roost") which means "a place where birds rest or sleep". This Middle English term is itself derived from the Old English word "hrōst" or "hrōstle", which also refers to a perch for birds. Both Old English words are related to the Proto-Germanic word "hrostilōną", which means "to roost" or "to perch". The word "roost" has been used in its current form since the 14th century and has remained relatively unchanged in its meaning.

Idioms with the word ROOST

  • rule the roost The idiom "rule the roost" means to be in charge or have control over a particular situation or group of people. It refers to the dominant position of a rooster (male chicken) in a chicken coop, where it governs and asserts its authority over the hens. Therefore, when someone is said to "rule the roost," it signifies their dominance, power, or control over a given environment or individuals.
  • the chickens come home to roost The idiom "the chickens come home to roost" is used to describe a situation where the consequences of someone's actions or choices catch up with them. It implies that eventually, one will have to face and deal with the negative outcomes resulting from their previous actions or decisions.
  • something comes home to roost The idiom "something comes home to roost" means that the negative consequences or results of someone's actions catch up with them or become evident and impact their life or situation. It implies that the repercussions of their choices or behavior have returned to affect them personally, often deservedly so.
  • cock of the roost The idiom "cock of the roost" refers to a person who considers themselves superior or dominant over others in a particular situation or setting. It is often used to describe someone who enjoys or seeks power and control, similar to a rooster being the dominant male in a group of chickens.
  • come home to roost The idiom "come home to roost" means that the consequences of one's actions or decisions catch up with them or have a negative impact on them, often unexpectedly or in a way that they cannot avoid or escape.
  • chickens come home to roost The idiom "chickens come home to roost" means that negative actions or consequences eventually catch up with the person or group responsible for them. It implies that one's past actions, whether good or bad, will eventually have an impact on their present or future circumstances.
  • come back/home to roost The idiom "come back/home to roost" refers to the consequences of one's actions catching up to them or causing problems for them. It suggests that negative or undesirable outcomes will eventually return and affect the person responsible for initiating them.
  • curses, like chickens, come home to roost The definition of the idiom "curses, like chickens, come home to roost" is that negative actions or intentions will eventually have consequences and return to affect the person responsible. Just like chickens that venture out during the day must return to their roost by nightfall, the negative consequences of one's actions will eventually catch up with them.

Similar spelling words for ROOST

Plural form of ROOST is ROOSTS

Conjugate verb Roost

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have roosted
you would have roosted
he/she/it would have roosted
we would have roosted
they would have roosted
I would have roost
you would have roost
he/she/it would have roost
we would have roost
they would have roost

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been roosting
you would have been roosting
he/she/it would have been roosting
we would have been roosting
they would have been roosting

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would roost
you would roost
he/she/it would roost
we would roost
they would roost

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be roosting
you would be roosting
he/she/it would be roosting
we would be roosting
they would be roosting

FUTURE

I will roost
you will roost
he/she/it will roost
we will roost
they will roost

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be roosting
you will be roosting
he/she/it will be roosting
we will be roosting
they will be roosting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have roosted
you will have roosted
he/she/it will have roosted
we will have roosted
they will have roosted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been roosting
you will have been roosting
he/she/it will have been roosting
we will have been roosting
they will have been roosting

IMPERATIVE

you roost
we let´s roost

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to roost

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was roosting
you were roosting
he/she/it was roosting
we were roosting
they were roosting

PAST PARTICIPLE

roosted

PAST PERFECT

I had roosted
you had roosted
he/she/it had roosted
we had roosted
they had roosted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been roosting
you had been roosting
he/she/it had been roosting
we had been roosting
they had been roosting

PRESENT

I roost
you roost
he/she/it roosts
we roost
they roost

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am roosting
you are roosting
he/she/it is roosting
we are roosting
they are roosting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

roosting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have roosted
you have roosted
he/she/it has roosted
we have roosted
they have roosted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been roosting
you have been roosting
he/she/it has been roosting
we have been roosting
they have been roosting

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it roost

SIMPLE PAST

I roosted
you roosted
he/she/it roosted
we roosted
they roosted

Infographic

Correct spelling for roost
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