riv|et /r I v I t/ (rivets , riveting , riveted )
1 VERB If you are riveted by something, it fascinates you and holds your interest completely. □ [be V -ed] As a child I remember being riveted by my grandfather's appearance. □ [be V -ed + to ] He was riveted to the Matt Damon movie. □ [V n] The scar on her face had immediately riveted their attention.
2 N‑COUNT A rivet is a short metal pin with a flat head which is used to fasten flat pieces of metal together.
riv|et|ing /r I v I t I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as riveting , you mean that it is extremely interesting and exciting, and that it holds your attention completely. □ I find snooker riveting though I don't play myself.
rivu|let /r I vjʊl I t/ (rivulets ) N‑COUNT A rivulet is a small stream. [FORMAL ]
RM /ɑː r e m/ RM is written after someone's name to show that they are an officer of the Royal Marines, one of the units which make up the United Kingdom's armed forces. □ …Captain Alastair Rogers, RM.
RN /ɑː r e n/
1 RN is a written abbreviation for Royal Navy , the navy of the United Kingdom. It is written after someone's name to show that they are an officer of the Royal Navy. [BRIT ] □ …RN Museum, Portsmouth. □ …Commander Richard Aylard RN.
2 RN is an abbreviation for registered nurse . [AM ] □ …a pediatric nurse, Kathleen McAdam RN.
RNA /ɑː r en e I / N‑UNCOUNT RNA is an acid in the chromosomes of the cells of living things which plays an important part in passing information about protein structure between different cells. RNA is an abbreviation for 'ribonucleic acid'. [TECHNICAL ]
RNAS /ɑː r en ei e s/ RNAS is a written abbreviation for Royal Naval Air Services , one of the units which make up the United Kingdom's armed forces.
roach /roʊ tʃ/ (roaches ) N‑COUNT A roach is the same as a cockroach . [mainly AM ]
road ◆◆◆ /roʊ d/ (roads )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names, oft by N ] A road is a long piece of hard ground which is built between two places so that people can drive or ride easily from one place to the other. □ There was very little traffic on the roads. □ We just go straight up the Bristol Road. □ Buses carry 30 per cent of those travelling by road. □ …road accidents.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The road to a particular result is the means of achieving it or the process of achieving it. □ [+ to ] We are bound to see some ups and downs along the road to recovery.
3 PHRASE If you hit the road , you set out on a journey. [INFORMAL ] □ I was relieved to get back in the car and hit the road again.
4 PHRASE If you are on the road , you are going on a long journey or a series of journeys by road. □ He hoped to get a new truck and go back on the road.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone is on the road to something, you mean that they are likely to achieve it. □ The government took another step on the road to political reform.
6 the end of the road → see end
road|block /roʊ dblɒk/ (roadblocks ) also road block N‑COUNT When the police or the army put a roadblock across a road, they stop all the traffic going through, for example because they are looking for a criminal. □ The city police set up roadblocks to check passing vehicles.
road|hog /roʊ dhɒg/ (roadhogs ) also road hog N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a roadhog , you mean that they drive too fast or in a way which is dangerous to other people. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
road|holding /roʊ dhoʊld I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT A vehicle's roadholding is how easy it is to control safely in difficult driving conditions or when going round bends.
road|house /roʊ dhaʊs/ (roadhouses ) N‑COUNT A roadhouse is a bar or restaurant on a road outside a city.
road|ie /roʊ di/ (roadies ) N‑COUNT A roadie is a person who transports and sets up equipment for a pop band.
road|kill /roʊ dk I l/ also road kill N‑UNCOUNT Roadkill is the remains of an animal or animals that have been killed on the road by cars or other vehicles. [mainly AM ] □ I don't feel good about seeing roadkill.
roa d man|ag|er (road managers ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] The road manager of someone such as a singer or sports player is the person who organizes their travel and other arrangements during a tour.
roa d map (road maps )
1 N‑COUNT A road map is a map which shows the roads in a particular area in detail.
2 N‑COUNT A road map of something is a detailed account of it, often intended to help people use or understand it. □ [+ of ] The idea was to create a comprehensive road map of the internet.
3 N‑COUNT When politicians or journalists speak about a road map to or for peace or democracy, they mean a set of general principles that can be used as a basis for achieving peace or democracy. □ [+ to/for ] He also raised doubts about the American road map to a peace settlement.
roa d pric|ing N‑UNCOUNT Road pricing is a system of making drivers pay money for driving on certain roads by electronically recording the movement of vehicles on those roads. [BRIT ]
roa d rage N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Road rage is anger or violent behaviour caused by someone else's bad driving or the stress of being in heavy traffic. □ …a road rage attack on a male motorist.
road|show /roʊ dʃoʊ/ (roadshows ) also road show
1 N‑COUNT A roadshow is a travelling show organized by a radio station, magazine, or company. □ The BBC Radio 2 Roadshow will broadcast live from the exhibition.