an actor's part in a play, film, etc. (戏剧、电影等的)角色 Dietrich's role as a wife in war-torn Paris. 迪特里希所扮演的角色是在饱受战争蹂躏的巴黎的一个妻子。 ■the function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation 作用;任务;职责 she greeted us all in her various roles of mother, friend, and daughter. 她以母亲、朋友和女儿的不同的身份向我们大家问候。 religion plays a vital role in society. 宗教在社会中起着至关重要的作用。
语源
early 17th cent.: from obsolete French roule 'roll', referring originally to the roll of paper on which the actor's part was written