rock

The definition of a rock is a hard mass of stone, or a broken off piece of a boulder, or is slang for a piece of crack cocaine.

(noun)

  1. An example of a rock is a piece of stone found at the bottom of a cliff.
  2. An example of a rock is a piece of cocaine found during a drug raid.

Rock is defined as moving or swaying from side to side.

(verb)

  1. An example of rock is swaying back and forth while holding a baby.
  2. An example of rock is an earthquake shaking a house.

Rock is defined as something related to rock and roll music.

(adjective)

An example of rock is music produced by The Beatles.

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See rock in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a large mass of stone forming a peak or cliff
    1. a large stone detached from the mass; boulder
    2. broken pieces of any size of such stone
    3. any stone, large or small
    1. mineral matter variously composed, formed in masses or large quantities in the earth's crust by the action of heat, water, etc.
    2. a particular kind or mass of this
  2. anything like or suggesting a rock, as in strength or stability; esp., a firm support, basis, refuge, etc.
  3. rockfish
    1. Chiefly Brit. a hard candy made in sticks
    2. rock candy
  4. Slang a diamond or other gem
  5. Slang crack cocaine or a single piece of it

Origin: ME rokke < OFr roche < ML rocca

transitive verb

  1. to move or sway back and forth or from side to side (a cradle, a child in the arms, etc.), esp. in a gentle, quieting manner
  2. to bring into a specified condition by moving or swaying in this way: to rock a baby to sleep
    1. to move or sway strongly; shake; cause to tremble or vibrate: the explosion rocked the house
    2. to upset emotionally
  3. Engraving to prepare the surface of (a plate) for a mezzotint by roughening with a rocker (sense )
  4. Mining to wash (sand or gravel) in a rocker (sense )

Origin: ME rocken < OE roccian, prob. akin to Ger rücken, to pull, push < IE *rek-, to project, totter (> ON, MDu rā, sailyard) < base *reg-, to put in order, stretch out > right

intransitive verb

  1. to move or sway back and forth or from side to side, as a cradle
  2. to move or sway strongly; shake; vibrate
  3. to be rocked, as ore

noun

  1. the act of rocking
  2. a rocking motion
    1. rock-and-roll
    2. popular music evolved from rock-and-roll, variously containing elements of folk music, country music, etc. and now often emphasizing loudness, distortion, the use of electronic synthesizers, etc.

See rock in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Relatively hard, naturally formed mineral or petrified matter; stone.
  2. a. A relatively small piece or fragment of such material.
    b. A relatively large body of such material, as a cliff or peak.
  3. A naturally formed aggregate of mineral matter constituting a significant part of the earth's crust.
  4. One that is similar to or suggestive of a mass of stone in stability, firmness, or dependability: The family has been his rock during this difficult time.
  5. rocks Slang Money.
  6. Slang A large gem, especially a diamond.
  7. Slang Crack cocaine.
  8. a. A varicolored stick candy.
    b. Rock candy.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old North French roque

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *rocca

.

verb rocked, rock·ing, rocks
verb, intransitive
  1. To move back and forth or from side to side, especially gently or rhythmically.
  2. To sway violently, as from a blow or shock. See Synonyms at swing.
  3. To be washed and panned in a cradle or in a rocker. Used of ores.
  4. Music To play or dance to rock 'n' roll.
verb, transitive
  1. To move back and forth or from side to side, especially in order to soothe or lull to sleep.
  2. To cause to shake or sway violently. See Synonyms at agitate.
  3. To disturb the mental or emotional equilibrium of; upset: News of the scandal rocked the town.
  4. To wash or pan (ore) in a cradle or rocker.
  5. In mezzotint engraving, to roughen (a metal plate) with a rocker or roulette.
noun
  1. a. A rocking motion.
    b. The act of rocking.
  2. Music Rock 'n' roll.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English rokken

Origin: , from Old English roccian

.

Related Forms:

  • rockˈing·ly adverb

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