/ rɒk; NAmE rɑːk/ noun , verb
■ noun
HARD MATERIAL
1.
[ U , C ] the hard solid material that forms part of the surface of the earth and some other planets :
They drilled through several layers of rock to reach the oil.
a cave with striking rock formations (= shapes made naturally from rock)
The tunnel was blasted out of solid rock.
volcanic / igneous / sedimentary, etc. rocks
2.
[ C ] a mass of rock standing above the earth's surface or in the sea / ocean :
the Rock of Gibraltar
The ship crashed into the infamous Sker Point rocks and broke into three pieces.
3.
[ C ] a large single piece of rock :
They clambered over the rocks at the foot of the cliff.
The sign said 'Danger: falling rocks'.
STONE
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a small stone :
Protesters pelted the soldiers with rocks.
MUSIC
5.
(also ˈrock music ) [ U ] a type of loud modern music with a strong beat played on electric guitars and drums :
punk rock
a rock band / star
SWEET / CANDY
6.
( BrE ) [ U ] a type of hard sweet / candy made in long sticks, often sold in places where people go on holiday / vacation by the sea / ocean :
a stick of Brighton rock
JEWEL
7.
[ C , usually pl. ] ( NAmE , informal ) a precious stone , especially a diamond
PERSON
8.
[ C , usually sing. ] a person who is emotionally strong and who you can rely on :
He is my rock.
•
IDIOMS
- (caught / stuck) between a rock and a hard place
- get your rocks off
- on the rocks
—more at steady adjective
■ verb
MOVE GENTLY
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side; to make sb/sth move in this way :
[ v ]
The boat rocked from side to side in the waves.
She was rocking backwards and forwards in her seat.
[ vn ]
He rocked the baby gently in his arms.
SHOCK
2.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to shock sb/sth very much or make them afraid :
The country was rocked by a series of political scandals.
The news rocked the world.
SHAKE
3.
to shake or to make sth shake violently :
[ v ]
The house rocked when the bomb exploded.
[ vn ]
The town was rocked by an earthquake.
( figurative )
The scandal rocked the government (= made the situation difficult for it) .
DANCE
5.
[ v ] ( old-fashioned ) to dance to rock music
BE GOOD
5.
[ v ] ( slang ) sth rocks used to say that sth is very good :
Her new movie rocks!
•
IDIOMS
- rock the boat
—more at foundation For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 4 and noun senses 6 to 7 Middle English : from Old French rocque , from medieval Latin rocca , of unknown ultimate origin.
noun sense 5 and verb late Old English roccian , probably from a Germanic base meaning remove, move; related to Dutch rukken jerk, tug and German rücken move. The noun dates from the early 19th cent.