rock

¹

[ rok ]

noun

1. a stone of any size:

   Please leave the creek rocks in place, as they can be habitats for bugs and other important creatures.

2. stone in the mass:

   It may be difficult to dig a basement for buildings that stand upon rock.

3. a large mass of stone forming a hill, cliff, promontory, or the like:

   They climbed up a nearby rock to eat their picnic lunch.

4. something resembling or suggesting a stone or mass of stone.
5. Geology.
   1. mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water.
   2. a particular kind of such matter:

      igneous rock.

6. a firm foundation or support:

   They have been a rock in my world, always there when I need a message of hope.

   My faith is my rock in times of trouble.

7. Chiefly British. a kind of hard candy often shaped into a cylindrical stick, variously flavored:

   The textures of this dessert are inspired by boiled sweets like sticks of rock and candy canes.

8. rock candy ( def ).
9. none rocks. Informal. ice cubes for use in a beverage:

   He usually orders a whiskey without rocks.

10. Slang.
    1. a diamond.
    2. any gem.
11. Usually rocks. Slang: Vulgar. testes ( def ).
12. Often rocks. Slang.
    1. a piece of money.
    2. a dollar bill.
13. Slang.
    1. crack ( def 33 ).
    2. a pellet or lump of crack.
14. curling stone:

    Regulation weight is verified for each rock before the curling match can begin.

rock

²

[ rok ]

verb (used without object)

1. to move or sway to and fro or from side to side.

   Synonyms: shake, roll

2. to be moved or swayed powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.
3. Mining. (of sand or gravel) to be washed in a cradle.
4. to dance to or play rock music.
5. (of popular music) to have the driving beat characteristic of rock.
6. Slang. to be very good, impressive, exciting, or effective:

   This show really rocks.

verb (used with object)

1. to move or sway to and fro or from side to side, especially gently and soothingly:

   Oh, look! Her big brother is rocking the baby to sleep.

2. to lull in security, hope, etc.
3. to affect deeply; move or sway powerfully, as with emotion; stun:

   Everyone in the courtroom was rocked by the verdict.

4. to shake or disturb violently:

   A thunderous explosion rocked the waterfront.

5. Slang.
   1. to stir up; animate:

      We're gonna rock this joint tonight!

   2. to use, wear, or display in a showy, self-confident manner or to great effect:

      Only you could rock that hat!

      The game rocks some amazing new features.

6. Graphic Arts. to roughen the surface of (a copperplate) with a rocker preparatory to scraping a mezzotint.
7. Mining. cradle ( def 22 ).

noun

1. a rocking movement:

   the gentle rock of the boat.

2. rock-'n'-roll ( def 1 ).

adjective

1. rock-'n'-roll ( def 2 ).

rock

³

[ rok ]

noun

1. striped bass.

Rock

⁴

[ rok ]

noun

1. a male given name.

Rock

¹

/ rɒk /

noun

1. See Gibraltar
   an informal name for Gibraltar
2. See Newfoundland
   a Canadian informal name for Newfoundland

rock

²

/ rɒk /

noun

1. See metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous
   geology any aggregate of minerals that makes up part of the earth's crust. It may be unconsolidated, such as a sand, clay, or mud, or consolidated, such as granite, limestone, or coal See also igneous sedimentary metamorphic
2. any hard mass of consolidated mineral matter, such as a boulder
3. a stone
4. a person or thing suggesting a rock, esp in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation
5. a hard sweet, typically a long brightly-coloured peppermint-flavoured stick, sold esp in holiday resorts
6. slang.
   a jewel, esp a diamond
7. See rock salmon
   short for rock salmon
8. slang.
   plural the testicles
9. See crack
   slang.
   another name for crack
10. between a rock and a hard place
    between a rock and a hard place having to choose between two equally unpleasant alternatives
11. on the rocks
    on the rocks
    1. in a state of ruin or destitution
    2. (of drinks, esp whisky) served with ice

rock

³

/ rɒk /

verb

1. to move or cause to move from side to side or backwards and forwards
2. to reel or sway or cause (someone) to reel or sway, as with a violent shock or emotion
3. tr to shake or move (something) violently
4. intr to dance in the rock-and-roll style
5. mining to wash (ore) or (of ore) to be washed in a cradle
6. tr to roughen (a copper plate) with a rocker before engraving a mezzotint
7. slang.
   tr to impress by wearing (an item of clothing) or playing (a musical instrument)

   She can still rock a miniskirt

   He rocks a guitar like nobody’s business

8. rock the boat informal.
   rock the boat to create a disturbance in the existing situation

noun

1. a rocking motion
2. See rock and roll
   short for rock and roll
3. Also calledrock music any of various styles of pop music having a heavy beat, derived from rock and roll

rock

/ rŏk /

1. A relatively hard, naturally occurring mineral material. Rock can consist of a single mineral or of several minerals that are either tightly compacted or held together by a cementlike mineral matrix. The three main types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
2. A piece of such material; a stone.

Other Words From

• rock·less adjective
• rock·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rock¹

First recorded in 1300–50; 1905–10 rock ¹fordef 10; Middle English rokk(ke), from Old French roche, ro(c)que; compare Provençal, Spanish roca, Italian rocca, Medieval Latin rocca, rocha (becoming late Old English -rocc in stānrocc “stone-rock, obelisk”); roche alum

Origin of rock²

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English rokken, rocken, rocke(n) “to rock (a cradle),” Old English roccian; cognate with Middle Dutch rocken “to stir, make move,” German rücken “to move, shift,” Old Norse rykkja “to jerk, pull”

Origin of rock³

First recorded in 1690–1700; short for rockfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of rock¹

C14: from Old French roche , of unknown origin

Origin of rock²

Old English roccian ; related to Middle Dutch, Old High German rocken , German rücken

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. between a rock and a hard place, between undesirable alternatives.
2. get one's rocks off, Slang: Vulgar.
   1. to have an orgasm.
   2. to experience gratification; get thrills.
3. on the rocks, Informal.
   1. in or into a state of disaster or ruin:

      Their marriage is on the rocks.

   2. without funds; destitute; bankrupt.
   3. (of a beverage, especially liquor or a cocktail) with, or containing, ice cubes:

      Scotch on the rocks;

      a vodka martini on the rocks.

4. rock the boat, Informal. to disrupt the smooth functioning or routine of something:

   Don't rock the boat by demanding special treatment from management.

More idioms and phrases containing rock

• between a rock and a hard place
• on the rocks
• steady as a rock

Synonym Study

See swing ¹.

Example Sentences

In an earlier experiment, I showed that sugar seed crystals are important for making rock candy.

From Science News For Students

She was confident, she was outspoken, she was kind of the queen of the underground New York rock music scene.

From Fortune

Those wingbeats also caused bodies of the tiny, coiled shell species and the midsize, long shell snails to rock back and forth as they swam.

From Science News

They are very similar to the rocks that may have formed our planet billions of years ago.

From Science News For Students

This 14-inch rocking pizza cutter will give you restaurant quality cut slices.

From Popular-Science

The atmosphere on campuses has gotten repressive enough that comedian Chris Rock no longer plays colleges.

From The Daily Beast

And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.

From The Daily Beast

My ball bounced back and the rock rolled just a little bit forward.

From The Daily Beast

I think 2014 was my big rock and roll year, and 2015 is gonna be a really good year to hang around the house.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, it was a fairly disappointing year in music—one devoid of Goth teen prodigies, Yeezy, and galvanizing rock anthems.

From The Daily Beast

The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

From Project Gutenberg

There lay Bob Rock, covered with blood, and apparently insensible.

From Project Gutenberg

When she heard it there came before her imagination the figure of a man standing beside a desolate rock on the seashore.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a pretty house, stood a little apart from the forge, and was called Rock Villa.

From Project Gutenberg

Between each group of figures the face of the rock was scored with mysterious signs and rudely limned weapons of war and chase.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• convulse
• jolt
• shake
• shock
• sway
• swing