rock
1a stone of any size: Please leave the creek rocks in place, as they can be habitats for bugs and other important creatures.
stone in the mass: It may be difficult to dig a basement for buildings that stand upon rock.
a large mass of stone forming a hill, cliff, promontory, or the like: They climbed up a nearby rock to eat their picnic lunch.
something resembling or suggesting a stone or mass of stone.
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.
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.
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.
rocks .Informal. ice cubes for use in a beverage: He usually orders a whiskey without rocks.
Slang.
a diamond.
any gem.
Usually rocks .Slang: Vulgar. testes.
Often rocks .Slang.
a piece of money.
a dollar bill.
Slang.
a pellet or lump of crack.
curling stone: Regulation weight is verified for each rock before the curling match can begin.
Idioms about rock
between a rock and a hard place, between undesirable alternatives.
get one's rocks off, Slang: Vulgar.
to have an orgasm.
to experience gratification; get thrills.
Origin of rock
1Other 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
Other definitions for rock (2 of 4)
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.
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; move or sway powerfully, as with emotion; stun: 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).
a rocking movement: the gentle rock of the boat.
Origin of rock
2synonym study For rock
Other words for rock
Other words from rock
- rock·a·ble, adjective
- rock·ing·ly, adverb
- un·rocked, adjective
Other definitions for rock (3 of 4)
Origin of rock
3Other definitions for Rock (4 of 4)
a male given name.
- Also Rock·y [rok-ee] /ˈrɒk i/ .
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rock in a sentence
In an earlier experiment, I showed that sugar seed crystals are important for making rock candy.
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice | Bethany Brookshire | September 16, 2020 | Science News For StudentsShe was confident, she was outspoken, she was kind of the queen of the underground New York rock music scene.
Inside ‘I Am Woman’: A new biopic tells the story of Helen Reddy and her famous song | radmarya | September 10, 2020 | FortuneThose wingbeats also caused bodies of the tiny, coiled shell species and the midsize, long shell snails to rock back and forth as they swam.
Sea butterflies’ shells determine how the snails swim | Maria Temming | September 8, 2020 | Science NewsThey are very similar to the rocks that may have formed our planet billions of years ago.
Scientists Say: Asteroid, meteor and meteorite | Bethany Brookshire | September 7, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThis 14-inch rocking pizza cutter will give you restaurant quality cut slices.
Pizza cutters that will get you the slice of your dreams | PopSci Commerce Team | September 2, 2020 | Popular-Science
The atmosphere on campuses has gotten repressive enough that comedian Chris rock no longer plays colleges.
And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’ | Marlow Stern | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTMy 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 | THE DAILY BEASTI think 2014 was my big rock and roll year, and 2015 is gonna be a really good year to hang around the house.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll | James Joiner | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTYes, it was a fairly disappointing year in music—one devoid of Goth teen prodigies, Yeezy, and galvanizing rock anthems.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More | Marlow Stern | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThere lay Bob rock, covered with blood, and apparently insensible.
When she heard it there came before her imagination the figure of a man standing beside a desolate rock on the seashore.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinIt was a pretty house, stood a little apart from the forge, and was called rock Villa.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowBetween each group of figures the face of the rock was scored with mysterious signs and rudely limned weapons of war and chase.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for rock (1 of 3)
/ (rɒk) /
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
Origin of rock
1British Dictionary definitions for rock (2 of 3)
/ (rɒk) /
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
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
Origin of rock
2- See also rock up
British Dictionary definitions for Rock (3 of 3)
/ (rɒk) /
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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