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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

rocs plural

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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.

Origin: Spanish

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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