I. rock ‧ et 1 /ˈrɒkət, ˈrɒkɪt $ ˈrɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: rocchetta 'small stick used in spinning thread' , from rocca 'stick used in spinning' ]
1 . [countable] a vehicle used for travelling or carrying things into space, which is shaped like a big tube ⇨ spacecraft :
The rocket was launched from a space research base.
a space rocket
2 . [countable] a weapon shaped like a big tube that is fired at things ⇨ missile :
anti-tank rockets
3 . [countable] a ↑ firework that goes high into the air before exploding into coloured lights
4 . [uncountable] British English a plant with green leaves and a strong taste, eaten raw in ↑ salad s SYN arugula American English
II. rocket 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
1 . ( also rocket up ) if a price or amount rockets, it increases quickly and suddenly:
Interest rates rocketed up.
rocket (from something) to something
Car sales rocketed from 180 to 2000 a year.
2 . [always + adverb/preposition] to move somewhere very fast SYN shoot :
The train rocketed through the tunnel.
Larsson’s shot rocketed into the back of the net.
3 . [always + adverb/preposition] to achieve a successful position very quickly SYN shoot
rocket to
Their new album rocketed to number one in the charts.
Beatty rocketed to stardom after his first film.