rocket Hear it!

rocket¹ Definition

rocket (räk′it)

noun

  1. any of various devices, typically cylindrical, containing liquid or solid propellants which when ignited produce hot gases or ions that escape through a rear vent and drive the container forward by the principle of reaction: simple rockets are used mainly as fireworks, signals, and projectile weapons, while more complex rockets are used to propel guided missiles, ballistic missiles, and spacecraft
  2. a spacecraft, missile, probe, etc. propelled by a rocket

Etymology: It rocchetta, spool or bobbin, rocket, orig. dim. of rocca, distaff < OHG roccho, distaff: from the resemblance in shape

intransitive verb

  1. to go like a rocket; dart ahead swiftly
  2. to travel in a rocket
  3. to soar; rise rapidly prices rocketed

transitive verb

  1. to convey in a rocket
  2. to attack by firing a rocket at
  3. to propel with or as with sudden force a hit song rocketing a singer to stardom

rocket² Definition

rocket (räk′it)

noun

  1. any of various plants of the crucifer family, with white, yellow, pink, or purple flowers; esp., sea rocket (genus Cakile) found along seashores in Europe and North America
  2. arugula
  3. dame's violet

Etymology: Fr roquette < It rochetta, var. of ruchetta, dim. < ruca, rocket < L eruca, kind of colewort

rocket Synonyms

rocket

n.

projectile, missile, retrorocket, spacecraft, guided missile, ballistic missile, flying missile; see also spacecraft.

Kinds of rockets include: liquid-fuel, solid-fuel, space, long-range, air-to-air (ATA), air-to-ground (ATG), ground-to-air (GTA), ground to ground (GTG), barrage rocket, high velocity aircraft rocket (HVAR), ship-to-shore (STS), ship-to-ship, multiple re-entry vehicle (MRV), multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV); space shuttle.

rocket Synonyms

rocket

v.

fly, climb, shoot up, skyrocket, ascend, soar, spring up, zoom.

rocket Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • them: Toe Tappers include two sets of whimsically themed booties rockets and butterflies that babies will be drawn to as they discover their feet.
  • propel: Liquid fuel, in the form of liquid oxygen and kerosene propelled this rocket to a maximum range of 1,727 miles.

Adjective modifier

  • v2: This was at the time Hitler was using V2 rockets.
  • v1: I remember early one morning during the war a doodlebug, V1 rocket, dropped in the next street.
  • peppery: Try the fringed frisée or lollo rossa, a crisp cos, peppery rocket or any of the mustards.
  • long-range: A new type of long-range German rocket, the V2, landed in London, causing a huge explosion and killing three people.
  • homemade: The son of a maths and science teacher, the boy Moses enjoyed launching homemade rockets.

Modifies a noun

  • launcher: Surprisingly the weapon we found least useful was the rocket launcher, acquired about half-way through the game.
  • booster: The EKV separated from its rocket booster more than 1,400 miles from the target warhead.
  • propulsion: Professor Branston is to lecture on modern developments in rocket propulsion to a group of school children on the moon.
  • salad: Flicking off pieces of rocket salad, I fled downstairs to the basement where I felt much more at home.
  • pesto: Dishes from around the world include Spanish tortilla with roasted peppers and rocket pesto.
  • science: Don't worry, there is no rocket science here, just a few more API calls to get to know.

Noun used with modifier

  • booty: Toe Tappers include two sets of whimsically themed booties rockets and butterflies that babies will be drawn to as they discover their feet.
  • booster: Resources are traded for colony ships, trade ships, and fleet upgrades of freight rings, booster rockets, and cannon.
  • anti-tank: With the course of time, tanks have become heavier and heavier to counter increasingly powerful anti-tank rockets.
  • solid-propellant: During the second half of 2001, Damascus continued to receive help from abroad on establishing a solid-propellant rocket motor development and production capability.
  • artillery: UN investigators will tell the security council on Monday that the tubes were for ordinary artillery rockets, the Washington Post reported.