rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

|||

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

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

Idioms

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”)

Related forms

rock·less, adjectiverock·like, adjective

Can be confused

boulder cobblestone granule pebble rock stone

Definition for rocks (2 of 4)

rock

[ 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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR rock ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Synonym study

1. See swing¹.

Definition for rocks (3 of 4)

rock

[ rok ]

/ rɒk /

noun

striped bass.

Origin of rock

First recorded in 1690–1700; short for rockfish

Definition for rocks (4 of 4)

Rock

or Rock·y

[ rok or rok-ee ]

/ rɒk or ˈrɒk i /

noun

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rocks

Thirty-two people died when he ran his ship onto the rocks off Tuscany in 2012.
The Costa Concordia’s Randy Reckless Captain Takes the Stand|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Otherwise, we go on the rocks,” he can be heard saying in English.
The Costa Concordia’s Randy Reckless Captain Takes the Stand|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When the ship hit the rocks, the sound of bells ringing and alarms sounding echoed in the theater.
The Costa Concordia’s Randy Reckless Captain Takes the Stand|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mirror made the rocks and vehicles seem to hang in the air.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As long as one or two rocks were left on the screen, the little saucer would continue to appear.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rocks, huge and picturesque, jut out into the stream, affording beautiful views of the river and the distant city.
The Works of Whittier, Volume V (of VII)|John Greenleaf Whittier
We simply tumbled down the mountain, like two rocks detached from its peak.
The Heart of the White Mountains, Their Legend and Scenery|Samuel Adams Drake
And if you look into these pools from above, you may often see it clinging to the rocks round the margin.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History|Theodore Wood
But not upon the path, nor upon the solid surface of these Bermuda rocks!
The White Invaders|Raymond King Cummings
Jest then I heard that sound ag'in, an' I made out it come from the point of rocks that makes off inter ther harber.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise|Burt L. Standish

British Dictionary definitions for rocks (1 of 3)

rock

/ (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 rocks (2 of 3)

rock

/ (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 rocks (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

Medicine definitions for rocks

Rock

[ rŏk ]

John 1890-1984

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

Science definitions for rocks

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 rocks

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