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.
(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
1
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
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”
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.
geologyany 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
mainlyUS, Canadian and Australiana stone
a person or thing suggesting a rock, esp in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation
Britisha hard sweet, typically a long brightly-coloured peppermint-flavoured stick, sold esp in holiday resorts
between a rock and a hard placehaving 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
miningto 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, mainlyUSto 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 boatinformalto create a disturbance in the existing situation
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.