roe

Roe generally denotes the eggs of fish and some marine animals, collected for consumption as a delicacy and used in many cuisines. Common varieties include salmon roe (ikura), flying fish roe (tobiko), and sturgeon roe, the source of caviar. Roe can be fresh, salted, brined, or processed into paste.

Roe is valued for its briny flavor and granular texture. It is consumed on its own, used as a garnish, or incorporated into dishes such as sushi, pasta, or spreads.

Roe is also a surname of English and German origin. In United States legal history, Roe v. Wade (1973) is a landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion rights, using "Roe" as a placeholder name for a pregnant plaintiff; it recognized a constitutional right to abortion under certain conditions and has influenced later doctrine in abortion-related cases.

In broader usage, the term appears in cultural and journalistic contexts where "Roe" denotes a name applied to people, places, or fictional characters. The meaning of the term thus depends heavily on context, spanning food, law, and names.