rover

1 of 2

noun (1)

ro·​ver ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
: pirate

rover

2 of 2

noun (2)

rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
1
: a random or long-distance mark in archery
usually used in plural
2
3
: a player who is not assigned to a specific position on a team and who plays wherever needed
4
: a vehicle for exploring the surface of an extraterrestrial body (such as the moon or Mars)

Examples of rover in a Sentence

Noun (2) ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
SpaceX's Starship cargo lander will transport a pressurized rover, currently being developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to the lunar surface no earlier than fiscal year 2032 to support Artemis VII and subsequent missions. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024 Sending rovers to another planet with no hope of maintenance or repair stops is a testament to the reliability and durability of this design. New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024 The images were captured in September by the rover Perserverance, a rover that has spent three years on Mars and is currently on the western wall of the planet's Jezero crater. James Powel, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Previous images includes a video taken by the Curiosity rover in 2019 and photo that the Opportunity rover snapped in 2004. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rover 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch, from roven to rob; akin to Old English rēafian to reave — more at reave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rover was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rover

Cite this Entry

“Rover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rover. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rover

1 of 2 noun
ro·​ver ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)

rover

2 of 2 noun
rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
: a person who roves around : roamer

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