noun
Uncommon
roc
rok
Roc (noun) means a giant bird from Middle Eastern legend, said to be strong enough to carry off elephants. Example: “In the tale, Sinbad was carried across the sea by a giant roc.”
noun
1
A giant bird from Middle Eastern legend, said to be strong enough to carry off elephants.
"In the tale, Sinbad was carried across the sea by a giant roc."
How to use roc
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mythical, enormous bird from old Arabian and Persian folklore.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "roc" (the legendary bird) with "rock" (stone) — they sound alike but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- rocs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the tale, Sinbad was carried across the sea by a giant _____.
Etymology
From Arabic rukhkh, borrowed via Persian and Spanish into English.
Rhymes for roc
See all rhymes for roc →Frequently asked questions
What does “roc” mean?
The word “roc” means a giant bird from Middle Eastern legend, said to be strong enough to carry off elephants. In plain terms, a mythical, enormous bird from old Arabian and Persian folklore.
How do you pronounce “roc”?
“Roc” is pronounced rok (/ɹɒk/ in IPA).
How do you use “roc” in a sentence?
Here is “roc” used in a sentence: “In the tale, Sinbad was carried across the sea by a giant roc.”
What part of speech is “roc”?
“Roc” is a noun.
Where does the word “roc” come from?
The word “roc” comes from Spanish. From Arabic rukhkh, borrowed via Persian and Spanish into English.
Is “roc” a common word?
“Roc” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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