Usage pattern:
to play roulette
They spent the evening playing roulette at the casino.
Egész este ruletteztek a kaszinóban.
She put all her chips on red at the roulette table.
Az összes zsetonját a pirosra tette a rulettasztalnál.
Roulette is one of the most popular games in Las Vegas.
He watched the ball bounce around the roulette wheel before landing on 23 black.
Online roulette has become very popular in recent years.
Learner examples
We played roulette on our vacation in Las Vegas.
A Las Vegas-i nyaralásunk alatt ruletteztünk.
In roulette, you can bet on red or black.
A rulettben lehet a pirosra vagy a feketére fogadni.
He lost all his money at the roulette table.
She learned how to play roulette from a friend.
Roulette is a game of luck, not skill.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "roulette" with other casino games like poker or blackjack. Remember that roulette is specifically the game with a spinning numbered wheel and a small ball.
Meaning
casino game with wheel and ball
Collocations
play roulette
|game of roulette
|roulette wheel
|roulette table
|spin the roulette wheel
Synonyms
casino game (A more general term; it does not specify which game, while "roulette" is the specific wheel-and-ball game.)
Antonyms
certainty (Roulette is a game of chance with uncertain results, while "certainty" means something sure and not left to chance.)
Themes
games
|entertainment
|money
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A gambling game in a casino where a small ball is spun on a wheel with numbers, and people bet money on which number or color will win.
A gambling game in which players bet on numbers, colors, or groups on a table while a small ball is spun around a numbered wheel to determine the winning outcome.
Usage pattern:
to spin the roulette wheel
The dealer spun the roulette before taking the players' bets.
A krupié megpörgette a rulettkereket, mielőtt felvette a játékosok tétjeit.
A spotlight shone directly on the roulette, making it the center of attention.
Egy reflektor közvetlenül a rulettkerékre irányult, így az került a figyelem középpontjába.
The casino had a custom-made roulette with gold numbers.
He watched the ball race around the roulette and slowly lose speed.
They replaced the old roulette after it became worn and unbalanced.
Learner examples
The ball spins on the roulette during the game.
A játék során a golyó a rulettkeréken pörög.
The casino bought a new roulette for the main room.
A kaszinó új rulettkereket vett a nagyterembe.
The roulette is next to the betting table.
He likes to watch the roulette spin.
The roulette must be fair for the game to be fair.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "roulette" always refers to the game itself. In casino contexts, it can also specifically mean the wheel device, especially when talking about its design or movement.
Meaning
the physical roulette wheel
Collocations
roulette wheel
|spin the roulette wheel
|the ball on the roulette wheel
|design of the roulette wheel
Synonyms
wheel (A general term for a circular rotating object; "roulette" here is specifically the numbered gambling wheel.)
Antonyms
table layout (In a casino, the roulette wheel is the spinning device, while the table layout is the flat betting area; they are contrasting parts of the game equipment.)
Themes
games
|entertainment
|objects
|arts_entertainment
Definition
The round, numbered wheel in the game of roulette that the ball spins on to decide which number wins.
The spinning, circular, numbered wheel with a track for a small ball that is used to determine the outcome in the game of roulette.
Usage pattern:
[something] is (a) roulette
For many gig workers, getting enough shifts each week is financial roulette.
Sok alkalmi munkavállaló számára kész pénzügyi lutri, hogy hétről hétre jut-e elég műszak.
Relying on untested medicine is a form of medical roulette.
A nem tesztelt gyógyszerre hagyatkozni az orvosi rulett egyik formája.
Without proper safety checks, air travel would turn into a deadly roulette.
Dating apps can feel like emotional roulette for some people.
Investing all your savings in one startup is economic roulette.
Learner examples
Finding a good job can feel like roulette these days.
Manapság jó állást találni sokszor lutrinak tűnhet.
Driving without a seat belt is like roulette with your life.
Biztonsági öv nélkül vezetni olyan, mint rulettet játszani az életeddel.
Using that old machine is a kind of safety roulette.
For poor families, every month is financial roulette.
Choosing a doctor without checking their history is health roulette.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this meaning in very formal writing where it can sound too dramatic or informal. It is best used in speech, journalism, or expressive writing when you want to stress risk and chance.
Meaning
risky situation decided by chance
Collocations
feel like roulette
|a real roulette
|political roulette
|environmental roulette
|medical roulette
Synonyms
gamble (Also suggests risk and uncertainty, but "gamble" is more general; "roulette" strongly suggests high randomness and lack of control.)
Antonyms
safe bet (A "safe bet" is something very likely to succeed, while "roulette" describes a highly uncertain, risky situation.)
Themes
risk
|life
|metaphor
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A situation where the result is very uncertain and can be risky, like a game of roulette where you cannot control what happens.
A process or situation in which the result depends heavily on chance and involves a significant element of risk or unpredictability, likened to the gambling game of roulette.
Usage pattern:
to use a roulette on [a surface]
The engraver used a roulette to create a textured background on the metal plate.
A vésnök recézőkerékkel alakított ki szemcsés hátteret a fémlemezen.
In sewing, a tracing roulette can transfer pattern lines onto fabric.
Varrásnál a másolókerékkel át lehet vinni a szabásminta vonalait az anyagra.
The dentist picked up a small roulette to roughen the surface of the filling.
Different roulettes produce different decorative effects on the print.
The artist switched to a finer roulette for more delicate shading.
Learner examples
The artist used a roulette to make many small dots.
A művész recézőkerékkel sok apró pontot készített.
She rolled the roulette over the metal to make a pattern.
Végiggörgette a recézőkereket a fémen, hogy mintát készítsen.
The sewing teacher showed us how to use a roulette on the cloth.
This roulette makes deep marks on the surface.
You can change the wheel on the roulette to get another pattern.
Common mistake:
Most learners are not familiar with this technical sense and may wrongly assume it always refers to the casino game. Context about tools, engraving, or sewing usually signals this meaning.
Meaning
toothed wheel used to mark surfaces
Collocations
engraving roulette
|dental roulette
|sewing roulette
|pattern roulette
Synonyms
tracing wheel (A specific type of roulette used in sewing; not all roulettes are tracing wheels, but they are closely related tools.)
Antonyms
smooth roller (A smooth roller presses without making distinct marks, while a roulette is designed to create repeated marks or holes.)
Themes
tools
|art
|crafts
|work
Definition
A small tool with a little wheel with teeth or a pattern that you roll over a surface to make many small marks or holes, used in some kinds of work like art or sewing.
A small handheld tool consisting of a toothed or patterned wheel that is rolled over a surface to create a series of small marks, holes, or lines, used in fields such as engraving, sewing, or dentistry.
