rock-and-roll Hear it!

rock-and-roll Definition

☆ rock·-and-roll (räk′'n rōl′)

noun

a form of popular music that evolved in the 1950s from rhythm and blues, characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm with an accent on the offbeat, and youth-oriented lyrics

Etymology: prob. first so used (1951) by Alan Freed, Cleveland disc jockey: use of rock, roll, rock and roll, etc., with ref. to sexual intercourse, is traditional in blues

rock-and-roll Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • generation: The second is that they've effectively become the Grateful Dead of their rock-and-roll generation.
  • band: We can now see what the two greatest rock-and-roll bands of all time had in common!