rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

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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.

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

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

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

rock candy.

rocks .Informal. ice cubes for use in a beverage: He usually orders a whiskey without rocks.

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about 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.
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

First recorded in 1300–50; 1905–10 for def. 12; Middle English rokk(ke), from Old French ro(c)que, roche; compare Spanish, Provençal roca, Italian rocca, Medieval Latin rocha, rocca (becoming late Old English -rocc in stānrocc “stone-rock, obelisk”); cf. roche alum

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

rock·less, adjectiverock·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rock

boulder, cobblestone, granule, pebble, rock , stone

Other definitions for rock (2 of 4)

rock²

[ 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; 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).

noun

a rocking movement: the gentle rock of the boat.

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

adjective

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

OTHER WORDS FOR rock

1 roll, shake.

See synonyms for rock on Thesaurus.com

Origin of rock

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”

synonym study for rock

1. See swing¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

rock·a·ble, adjectiverock·ing·ly, adverbun·rocked, adjective

Other definitions for rock (3 of 4)

rock³

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

noun

striped bass.

Origin of rock

First recorded in 1690–1700; short for rockfish

Other definitions for rock (4 of 4)

Rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

noun

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

As we just said, when your opponent played rock or paper, you should play paper.
Can You Reach The Beach?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 7, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Walking around on the surface of the Earth every day, it’s easy to forget that a superhot pool of melted rock lies deep beneath our feet.
Let’s learn about volcanoes|Bethany Brookshire|August 5, 2020|Science News For Students
Most suspect the balls form when airborne moss spores gain a foothold on a small rock or similar debris.
On an Alaskan glacier, little green moss balls roll in herds|Beth Geiger|July 30, 2020|Science News For Students
The instruments will seek signs of ancient microbes preserved in Martian rocks and soil, and help scientists decide which rocks to store for a future mission to return to Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance rover will seek signs of past life on Mars|Lisa Grossman|July 28, 2020|Science News

The fossil was pulled from roughly 110 million-year-old rocks in Alberta, Canada.
Fossil stomach reveals a dinosaur’s last meal|Carolyn Wilke|July 7, 2020|Science News For Students
And think of world-rocking changes in gender roles and expectations.
This One Picture of Telly Savalas Refutes All Fears That Progress Has Ended|Nick Gillespie|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For other worlds, we usually have to rely on other data: fluctuations in gravity, or the gentle rocking motion known as libration.
Saturn’s Death Star Look-Alike|Matthew R. Francis|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The involvement of Huda-Par and the Grey Wolves in the violence rocking the southeast augurs badly.
Kobani is Falling to ISIS in Syria. Kurd Protests Explode in Turkey.|Jamie Dettmer|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The horseman, aka Abraham, is actually passably cute, with a rocking bod and apparently steady source of income.
Naked Ben Franklin Christens the Campy Return of ‘Sleepy Hollow’|Amy Zimmerman|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mattress causes the boat to tip forward, and in the ensuing rocking the boat begins to take on water.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Crow was rocking back and forth on his perch, for a joke—on anybody except himself—always delighted him.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
There was a very audible titter in the corner where three thoughtless young girls had squeezed themselves into one rocking-chair.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
By this time the bent figure sitting in the rocking-chair, near the coffin began to show signs of life and whimper a little.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
"It's curious how attached one gets to a dog," said Perry sagely, resuming his rocking from heel to toe and toe to heel.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
There was a lump in Perry's throat at that moment, and he stopped his rocking and turned to the fire, so his back was toward me.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for rock (1 of 3)

rock¹

/ (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 coalSee 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)

rock²

/ (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

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

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.

Other 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

rock

Idioms about rock

Origin of rock

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rock

Other definitions for rock (2 of 4)

OTHER WORDS FOR rock

Origin of rock

synonym study for rock

OTHER WORDS FROM rock

Other definitions for rock (3 of 4)

Origin of rock

Other definitions for rock (4 of 4)

Words related to rock

How to use rock in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rock (1 of 3)

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock (2 of 3)

Word Origin for rock

British Dictionary definitions for rock (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for rock

Other Idioms and Phrases with rock