roe

[ roh ]

/ roʊ /

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noun

the mass of eggs, or spawn, within the ovarian membrane of the female fish.

the milt or sperm of the male fish.

the eggs of any of various crustaceans, as the coral of the lobster.

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Origin of roe

1400–50; late Middle English rowe; cognate with Old High German rogo

Words nearby roe

rod mill, Rodney, rodomontade, Rodrigo, Rodzinski, roe, Roebling, roebuck, roe deer, Roeg, roemer

Other definitions for roe (2 of 3)

roe²

[ roh ]

/ roʊ /

noun, plural roes, (especially collectively) roe.

roe deer.

Origin of roe

before 900; Middle English roo,Old English rā, rāha; cognate with German Reh

Other definitions for roe (3 of 3)

ROE

Accounting.

return on equity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use roe in a sentence

They were busily implementing these in cases like Roe v. Wade when a right-wing insurgency took them by surprise.
A Reminder: Our Justices are Politicians in Robes|Jedediah Purdy|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prior to Roe v. Wade, nearly one-fifth of maternal deaths in America were due to illegal abortions.
Indiana 'Feticide' Charge Is the Latest Fallout From States' Strict Anti-Abortion Laws|Sally Kohn|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And worryingly, 20 years after Roe vs. Wade, only 12 percent of OB-GYN programs taught abortion techniques.
The Medical Community’s Hidden Abortion-Training War|Abigail Golden|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The abortion rate in the U.S. has reached its lowest level since Roe v Wade.
Thank The Pill For Abortion Rate Drop|Sally Kohn|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Advocates on both sides are celebrating and condemning Roe and its implications at events in Washington and across the country.
What Do Threats To Roe V. Wade And Domestic Violence Have In Common? Patriarchy.|Sally Kohn|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Near the fireplaces Mr. Roe picked up some stones that had been chipped probably in the manufacture of their hatchets.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
A very beautiful and accurate drawing of this curious animal was made by Lieutenant Roe.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
The roe-buck, found in the south of Canada, and in Louisiana, is also smaller and has a longer tail than that of Europe.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
When you want to use it, mix the Roe with a little wheaten flour and gum water, to cause adhesion to the hook.
The Teesdale Angler|R Lakeland
Salmon Roe is such a destructive bait for nearly all kinds of fish, and Trout in particular, that I know nothing comparable to it.
The Teesdale Angler|R Lakeland

British Dictionary definitions for roe (1 of 3)

roe¹

/ (rəʊ) /

noun

Also called: hard roe the ovary of a female fish filled with mature eggs

Also called: soft roe the testis of a male fish filled with mature sperm

the ripe ovary of certain crustaceans, such as the lobster

Word Origin for roe

C15: from Middle Dutch roge, from Old High German roga; related to Old Norse hrogn

British Dictionary definitions for roe (2 of 3)

roe²

/ (rəʊ) /

noun plural roes or roe

short for roe deer

Word Origin for roe

Old English rā (ha), related to Old High German rēh (o), Old Norse rā

British Dictionary definitions for roe (3 of 3)

Roe

/ (rəʊ) /

noun

Richard Roe law (formerly) the defendant in a fictitious action, Doe versus Roe, to test a point of lawSee also Doe (def. 1)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for roe

roe

[ rō ]

The eggs of a fish, often together with the membrane of the ovary in which they are held.

roe

Origin of roe

Words nearby roe

Other definitions for roe (2 of 3)

Origin of roe

Other definitions for roe (3 of 3)

Words related to roe

How to use roe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for roe (1 of 3)

Word Origin for roe

British Dictionary definitions for roe (2 of 3)

Word Origin for roe

British Dictionary definitions for roe (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for roe