n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English rokke, from Old French dialect (Norman & Picard) roke, from Vulgar Latin *rocca
Date: 14th century
1 : a large mass of stone forming a cliff, promontory, or peak
2 : a concreted mass of stony material also : broken pieces of such masses
3 : consolidated or unconsolidated solid mineral matter also : a particular mass of it
4 a : something like a rock in firmness: (1) : FOUNDATION , SUPPORT (2) : REFUGE <a rock of independent thought ⋯ in an ocean of parochialism ― Thomas Molnar> b : something that threatens or causes disaster ― often used in plural
5 a : a flavored stick candy with color running through b : ROCK CANDY 1
6 slang a : GEM b : DIAMOND
7 a : a small crystallized mass of crack cocaine b : CRACK 9
8 : the ball used in basketball
– rock adjective
– rock · like \ ' räk- ˌ l ī k \ adjective
– between a rock and a hard place also between the rock and the hard place : in a difficult or uncomfortable position with no attractive way out
– on the rocks
1 : in or into a state of destruction or wreckage <their marriage is on the rocks >
2 : on ice cubes <bourbon on the rocks >