roman*: Meaning and Definition of

ro•man

Pronunciation: (rô-män'), [key]
— pl. -mans
  1. a metrical narrative, esp. in medieval French literature.
  2. a novel.

Ro•man

Pronunciation: (rō'mun), [key]
— adj.
  1. of or pertaining to the ancient or modern city of Rome, or to its inhabitants and their customs and culture: Roman restaurants.
  2. of or pertaining to the ancient kingdom, republic, and empire whose capital was the city of Rome.
  3. of a kind or character regarded as typical of the ancient Romans: Roman virtues.
  4. (usually l.c.) designating or pertaining to the upright style of printing types most commonly used in modern books, periodicals, etc., of which the main text of this dictionary is an example.
  5. of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church.
  6. noting, pertaining to, or resembling the architecture of ancient Rome, esp. the public and religious architecture, characterized by the employment of massive brick and concrete construction, with such features as the semicircular arch, the dome, and groin and barrel vaults, by the use in interiors of marble and molded stucco revetments, by the elaboration of the Greek orders as purely decorative motifs for the adornment of façades and interiors, and by an overall effect in which simplicity and grandeur of massing is often combined with much elaboration of detailing.
  7. written in or pertaining to Roman numerals.
—n.
  1. a native, inhabitant, or citizen of ancient or modern Rome.
  2. the dialect of Italian spoken in Rome.
  3. (usually l.c.) roman type or lettering.
  4. a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
  5. the Latin language.
  6. a male given name.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.