rock
rok
Rock (noun) means a hard natural mineral material, or a piece of it such as a stone or boulder. Example: “The path was covered in loose rock, so we walked slowly and carefully.”
noun
1
A hard natural mineral material, or a piece of it such as a stone or boulder.
"The path was covered in loose rock, so we walked slowly and carefully."
"They climbed over the rocks to reach the tide pools."
"A rock came loose and tumbled down the cliff face."
2
A style of popular music with a strong beat, driven by electric guitar, bass, and drums.
"My brother plays bass in a rock band that practises in the garage."
"Do you prefer rock or jazz when you're driving long distances?"
"He grew up listening to classic rock from the seventies."
3
Someone or something that provides steady support and stability.
"After he lost his job, his wife was the rock that held the family together."
"Every team needs a rock, someone calm who stays steady when things go wrong."
"Her mother was her rock throughout the divorce."
verb
1
To move gently backward and forward, or to cause something to do so.
"He sat on the porch and rocked slowly in his old wooden chair."
"She rocked the baby to sleep in her arms."
"The boat rocked gently on the calm water."
2
To shake something violently, or to shock and disturb people deeply.
"An earthquake rocked the city early this morning."
"The scandal rocked the entire company."
"The sudden news rocked the whole village and left everyone silent."
3
(informal) To be excellent, or to wear or perform something with great confidence and style.
"Our band rocked the school hall, and everyone was dancing by the last song."
"That new song really rocks."
"She totally rocked that red dress at the party."
How to use rock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stone or mineral mass; also a genre of music, a source of stability, or (informally) to be great or to sway back and forth.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the informal sense "that rocks" (it's excellent) with the literal sense of stone.
Common pairings
solid as a rock
rock music
rock the boat
rock climbing
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Word forms
- Plural
- rocks
- Third person singular
- rocks
- Past tense
- rocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The path was covered in loose _____, so we walked slowly and carefully.
Etymology
From Old English and Anglo-Norman words for stone, ultimately from Medieval Latin rocca, of uncertain, possibly Celtic origin.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rock
See all rhymes for rock →Frequently asked questions
What does “rock” mean?
The word “rock” means a hard natural mineral material, or a piece of it such as a stone or boulder. In plain terms, a stone or mineral mass; also a genre of music, a source of stability, or (informally) to be great or to sway back and forth.
How do you pronounce “rock”?
“Rock” is pronounced rok (/ɹɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “rock” in a sentence?
Here is “rock” used in a sentence: “They climbed over the rocks to reach the tide pools.”
What is another word for “rock”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rock” include natural mineral aggregate, bedrock, hit, sleep with, waver and judder.
What part of speech is “rock”?
Depending on how it is used, “rock” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rock” come from?
The word “rock” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old English and Anglo-Norman words for stone, ultimately from Medieval Latin rocca, of uncertain, possibly Celtic origin.
Is “rock” a common word?
“Rock” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “rock” have?
“Rock” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard natural mineral material, or a piece of it such as a stone or boulder.
What is the difference between a rock and a stone?
The words overlap, but there is a general pattern. 'Rock' refers to the hard mineral material itself or a large mass of it, like a cliff face. 'Stone' usually means a smaller piece you could pick up. British English often calls a small piece a stone, while American English uses rock more freely.
What are the three types of rock?
Geologists group rocks into three types. Igneous rock forms when molten material cools and hardens. Sedimentary rock forms as layers of particles are pressed together over time. Metamorphic rock forms when existing rock is changed by intense heat and pressure. Together they make up the Earth's solid crust.
What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?
A mineral is a single, naturally occurring substance with a specific chemical make-up, such as quartz or feldspar. A rock is a solid mass made up of one or more minerals combined together. So minerals are the ingredients, and rock is the mixture that those ingredients form.
What is an example of a rock?
Everyday examples include granite, used for worktops and buildings, along with limestone, sandstone, marble, and slate. Each forms in a different way and has different uses. A pebble on a beach or a boulder on a hillside is simply a loose piece of one of these natural rock types.
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