rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rock ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Geology.

mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water.
a particular kind of such matter: igneous rock.

stone in the mass: buildings that stand upon rock.

a stone of any size.

something resembling or suggesting a rock.

a firm foundation or support: The Lord is my rock.

Chiefly British. a kind of hard candy, variously flavored.

rock candy.

Often rocks. Slang.

a piece of money.
a dollar bill.

Slang.

a diamond.
any gem.

Slang.

crack(def 33).
a pellet or lump of crack.

Idioms for rock

between a rock and a hard place, between undesirable alternatives.

get one's rocks off, Slang: Vulgar. to have an orgasm.

on the rocks,

Informal. in or into a state of disaster or ruin: Their marriage is on the rocks.
Informal. without funds; destitute; bankrupt.
(of a beverage, especially liquor or a cocktail) with, or containing, ice cubes: Scotch on the rocks; a vodka martini on the rocks.

Origin of rock

1300–50; 1905–10 for def 10; Middle English rokk(e) < Old French ro(c)que, roche (cf. roche alum); compare Spanish, Provençal roca, Italian rocca, Medieval Latin rocha, rocca (> late Old English -rocc in stānrocc “stone-rock”)

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

rock·less, adjective rock·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rock

boulder cobblestone granule pebble rock stone

Words nearby rock

rochelle powders, rochelle salt, rochester, rochet, rocinante, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock and rye, rock barnacle, rock bass

Definition for rock (2 of 4)

rock ²

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

verb (used without object)

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

to be moved or swayed powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.

Mining. (of sand or gravel) to be washed in a cradle.

to dance to or play rock music.

(of popular music) to have the driving beat characteristic of rock.

Slang. to be very good, impressive, exciting, or effective: This show really rocks.

verb (used with object)

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.

to lull in security, hope, etc.

to affect deeply; stun; move or sway powerfully, as with emotion: Everyone in the courtroom was rocked by the verdict.

to shake or disturb violently: A thunderous explosion rocked the waterfront.

Slang.

to stir up; animate: We're gonna rock this joint tonight!
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.

Graphic Arts. to roughen the surface of (a copperplate) with a rocker preparatory to scraping a mezzotint.

Mining. cradle(def 22).

noun

a rocking movement: the gentle rock of the boat.

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

adjective

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

Origin of rock

before 1100; Middle English rocken, Old English roccian; cognate with Middle Dutch rocken; akin to German rücken; Old Norse rykkja to jerk

SYNONYMS FOR rock

1 roll, shake.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rock ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for rock

1. See swing¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

rock·a·ble, adjective rock·ing·ly, adverb un·rocked, adjective

Definition for rock (3 of 4)

rock ³

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

noun

striped bass.

Origin of rock

First recorded in 1690–1700; short for rockfish

Definition for rock (4 of 4)

Rock

or Rock·y

[ rok or rok-ee ]

/ rɒk or ˈrɒk i /

noun

a male given name.

Example sentences from the Web for rock

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

Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art |Alec Kubas-Meyer |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
In previous decades, hip-hop was something typically preached against, much like rock & roll and heavy metal before it.

Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet |Stereo Williams |December 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
After signing on to the film, Moore enlisted the services of her 30 Rock costar Alec Baldwin to play her caring husband.

Julianne Moore Is Oscar Gold in ‘Still Alice’ |Marlow Stern |December 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But, strange to say, Cocker never got inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker |Ted Gioia |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Cocker, by contrast, was always a rock singer, without frills or apologies.

The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker |Ted Gioia |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And there is the cave under the rock where Moses dwelt, when he fasted forty days and forty nights.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville |John Mandeville
The slow spin of our rock had now brought the Dippers into view.

Industrial Revolution |Poul William Anderson
Carefully, silently, the chief crawled down from the rock, which immediately became again a small stone.

Basutoland |Minnie Martin
Beside it, a tall needle of rock, serrated and sharp, shot up.

My New Curate |P.A. Sheehan
The fence begins to melt as if in a haze and the logic of clearing this vast expanse of earth and rock escapes him.

The Land of Look Behind |Paul Cameron Brown

British Dictionary definitions for rock (1 of 3)

rock ¹

/ (rɒk) /

noun

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

any hard mass of consolidated mineral matter, such as a boulder

mainly US, Canadian and Australian a stone

a person or thing suggesting a rock, esp in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation

British a hard sweet, typically a long brightly-coloured peppermint-flavoured stick, sold esp in holiday resorts

slang a jewel, esp a diamond

short for rock salmon

(plural) slang the testicles

slang another name for crack (def. 29)

between a rock and a hard place having to choose between two equally unpleasant alternatives

on the rocks

in a state of ruin or destitution
(of drinks, esp whisky) served with ice

Word Origin for rock

C14: from Old French roche, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for rock (2 of 3)

rock ²

/ (rɒk) /

verb

to move or cause to move from side to side or backwards and forwards

to reel or sway or cause (someone) to reel or sway, as with a violent shock or emotion

(tr) to shake or move (something) violently

(intr) to dance in the rock-and-roll style

mining to wash (ore) or (of ore) to be washed in a cradle

(tr) to roughen (a copper plate) with a rocker before engraving a mezzotint

(tr) slang, mainly US 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

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

noun

a rocking motion

short for rock and roll

Also called: rock music any of various styles of pop music having a heavy beat, derived from rock and roll

Word Origin for rock

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

British Dictionary definitions for rock (3 of 3)

Rock

/ (rɒk) /

noun the Rock

an informal name for Gibraltar

a Canadian informal name for Newfoundland

Medical definitions for rock

Rock

[ rŏk ]

John 1890-1984

American gynecologist and obstetrician who helped develop the first effective oral contraceptive in 1954.

Scientific definitions for rock

rock

[ rŏk ]

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.

A piece of such material; a stone.

Idioms and Phrases with rock

rock

In addition to the idioms beginning with rock

rock bottom
rocks in one's head, have
rock the boat

also see:

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

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rock