roe

1 of 2

noun (1)

plural roe or roes
: doe

roe

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: the eggs of a fish especially when still enclosed in the ovarian membrane
2
: the eggs or ovaries of an invertebrate (such as the coral of a lobster)

Examples of roe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The food crawl starts over the house-special lobster – laden with scallions, garlic, chilis and roe – at the San Gabriel location of the banquet classic Newport Seafood, where Mama Sun (Michelle Yeoh) frequents to gather intel from the fellow Taiwanese and Chinese aunties. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2024 The two match each other ounce for ounce in sheer exuberance, while the flavors and textures meld beautifully, the Champagne’s brioche-like depth and playful effervescence framing the subtle complexities of the roe. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023 Only female crabs with the roe on the inside may be used. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023 In recent years, ecological efforts to preserve the supply of crabs banned the harvesting of roe from egg-bearing female crabs who carry the roe outside their shells. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023 Between the saltiness of the roe and the delicate oniony chives, each spoonful was ethereal. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Sep. 2023 Guests can also arrange salmon roe and wine pairings, wildlife-watching excursions (think humpback and orca whales, seals, eagles, and sea lions), cruises via zodiac, and bear-watching expeditions. Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2023 The basic tasting features mostly domestic roes ($175). Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2023 The bears eat the most fatty, calorie-dense parts of the fish—like the brain, skin, and roe—and leave the leaner fillets behind. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ro, from Old English ; akin to Old High German rēh roe

Noun (2)

Middle English roof, roughe, row; akin to Old Norse hrogn roe and probably to Lithuanian kurkulai frog's eggs

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roe was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near roe

Cite this Entry

“Roe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roe. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

roe

noun
ˈrō
: the eggs of a fish especially while still bound together in a membrane

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