rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rock ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Idioms for rock

rock the boat, Informal. to disrupt the smooth functioning or routine of something: Don't rock the boat by demanding special treatment from management.

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

Words nearby rock

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

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (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 the boat (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 the boat (3 of 3)

Rock

/ (rɒk) /

noun the Rock

an informal name for Gibraltar

a Canadian informal name for Newfoundland

Medical definitions for rock the boat

Rock

[ rŏk ]

John 1890-1984

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

Scientific definitions for rock the boat

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 the boat (1 of 2)

rock the boat

Disturb a stable situation, as in An easygoing manager, he won't rock the boat unless it's absolutely necessary. This idiom alludes to capsizing a small vessel, such as a canoe, by moving about in it too violently. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with rock the boat (2 of 2)

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rock

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

Idioms for rock

Origin of rock

SYNONYMS FOR rock

synonym study for rock

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

Words nearby rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (1 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (3 of 3)

noun the Rock

Medical definitions for rock the boat

Scientific definitions for rock the boat

Idioms and Phrases with rock the boat (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rock the boat (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rock

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

Idioms for rock

Origin of rock

SYNONYMS FOR rock

synonym study for rock

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

Words nearby rock

Words related to rock the boat

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (1 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (3 of 3)

noun the Rock

Medical definitions for rock the boat

Scientific definitions for rock the boat

Idioms and Phrases with rock the boat (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rock the boat (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for rock the boat (1 of 3)