I. ˈräk verb
Etymology: Middle English rokken, from Old English roccian; akin to Old High German rucken to cause to move
Date: 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to move back and forth in or as if in a cradle
2.
a. : to cause to sway back and forth
a boat rock ed by the waves
b.
(1) : to cause to shake violently
(2) : to daze with or as if with a vigorous blow
a hard right rock ed the contender
(3) : to astonish or disturb greatly
the scandal rock ed the community
3. : to rouse to excitement (as by performing rock music)
rock ed the crowd
intransitive verb
1. : to become moved backward and forward under often violent impact ; also : to move gently back and forth
2. : to move forward at a steady pace ; also : to move forward at a high speed
the train rock ed through the countryside
3. : to sing, dance to, or play rock music
4. slang : to be extremely enjoyable, pleasing, or effective
her new car rock s
Synonyms: see shake
•
- rock the boat
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Date: 1823
1. : a rocking movement
2. : popular music usually played on electronically amplified instruments and characterized by a persistent heavily accented beat, repetition of simple phrases, and often country, folk, and blues elements
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English roc, from Middle Dutch rocke; akin to Old High German rocko distaff
Date: 14th century
1. : distaff
2. : the wool or flax on a distaff
IV. 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 ˈräk-ˌlīk adjective
•
- between a rock and a hard place
- on the rocks