What does "rock" mean?
A formation of minerals, specifically:; The naturally occurring aggregate of solid mineral matter that constitutes a significant part of the earth's crust.
Rock
/ɹɒk/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A formation of minerals, specifically:; The naturally occurring aggregate of solid mineral matter that constitutes a significant part of the earth's crust.
- Grammar: rock is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: rock music, shake, stone, sway.
- Useful contrasts: danish jord samples, fertile danish jord, icelandic leir.
- Usage evidence: Passing through the strong wind, the planes rock like this, but don't worry.
How to use "rock"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rock" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rock" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rock" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rock" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rock" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "rock music" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rock", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A formation of minerals, specifically:; The naturally occurring aggregate of solid mineral matter that constitutes a significant part of the earth's crust. uncountable
"The face of the cliff is solid rock."
- 2 An act of rocking; a rocking motion; a sway.
- 3 A style of music characterized by basic drum-beat, generally 4/4 riffs, based on (usually electric) guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards (often), and vocals. uncountable
- 4 Distaff. countable
"Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thread / By grisly Lachesis was spun with pain, / That cruel Atropos eftsoon undid."
- 5 Archaic form of roc (mythical bird). alt-of, archaic
Show 27 more definitions
- 6 pitching dangerously to one side wordnet
- 7 A formation of minerals, specifically:; A mass of stone projecting out of the ground or water. countable, uncountable
"The ship crashed on the rocks."
- 8 The flax or wool on a distaff. uncountable
- 9 a genre of popular music originating in the 1950s; a blend of black rhythm-and-blues with white country-and-western wordnet
- 10 A formation of minerals, specifically:; A boulder or large stone; or (US, Canada) a smaller stone; a pebble. Ireland, UK, countable, uncountable
"Some fool has thrown a rock through my window."
- 11 hard bright-colored stick candy (typically flavored with peppermint) wordnet
- 12 A formation of minerals, specifically:; Any natural material with a distinctive composition of minerals. countable, uncountable
- 13 a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter wordnet
- 14 A formation of minerals, specifically:; A precious stone or gem, especially a diamond. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"Look at the size of that rock on her finger!"
- 15 (figurative) someone who is strong and stable and dependable wordnet
- 16 A large hill or island having no vegetation. countable, uncountable
"Pearl Rock near Cape Cod is so named because the morning sun makes it gleam like a pearl."
- 17 material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust wordnet
- 18 Something that is strong, stable, and dependable; a person who provides security or support to another. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
- 19 A lump or cube of ice. countable, uncountable
"I'll have a whisky on the rocks, please."
- 20 A type of confectionery made from sugar in the shape of a stick, traditionally having some text running through its length. British, uncountable
"While we're in Brighton, let's get a stick of rock!"
- 21 A crystallized lump of crack cocaine. US, countable, slang, uncountable
"I ain't guilty, ‘cause even though I sell rocks / It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox"
- 22 An unintelligent person, especially one who repeats mistakes. US, countable, slang, uncountable
- 23 An Afrikaner. South-Africa, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable
- 24 An extremely conservative player who is willing to play only the very strongest hands. US, countable, slang, uncountable
- 25 Any of several fish:; The striped bass. countable, uncountable
- 26 Any of several fish:; The huss or rock salmon. countable, uncountable
"We ordered rock and chips to take away."
- 27 A basketball. US, countable, slang, uncountable
"Yo homie, pass the rock!"
- 28 A mistake. US, countable, slang, uncountable
"Now, you should never make the last out of an inning at third, and when a player does it, everyone knows he pulled a rock."
- 29 Synonym of stone. countable, uncountable
- 30 A closed hand (a handshape resembling a rock), that beats scissors and loses to paper. It beats lizard and loses to Spock in rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock. countable, uncountable
- 31 A cricket ball, especially a new one that has not been softened by use countable, informal, uncountable
- 32 A crystal used to control the radio frequency. countable, uncountable
"It was easily possible to double the cost of a CB rig just by adding all of the "rocks" necessary to do the job."
Verb
- 1 To pelt with rocks; to stone.
"Do you chaps mean to say you didn't make Rabbits-Eggs drunk and bribe him to rock King's rooms?"
- 2 To move gently back and forth. intransitive, transitive
"Rock the baby to sleep."
- 3 To play, perform, or enjoy rock music, especially with a lot of skill or energy. intransitive
"Let's rock!"
- 4 move back and forth or sideways wordnet
- 5 To cause to shake or sway violently. transitive
"Don't rock the boat."
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 To be very favourable or skilful; excel; be fantastic. intransitive, slang
"Chocolate rocks."
- 7 cause to move back and forth wordnet
- 8 To sway or tilt violently back and forth. intransitive
"The boat rocked at anchor."
- 9 To thrill or excite, especially with rock music. transitive
"Let's rock this joint!"
- 10 be excellent or outstanding wordnet
- 11 To be washed and panned in a cradle or in a rocker. intransitive, transitive
"The ores had been rocked and laid out for inspection."
- 12 To have people dancing and enjoying rock music. intransitive
"The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds The coffin-bangers were about to arrive With their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five."
- 13 To disturb the emotional equilibrium of; to distress; to greatly impact (most often positively). transitive
"Downing Street has been rocked by yet another sex scandal."
- 14 To do something with excitement yet skillfully. transitive
"I need to rock a piss."
- 15 To do well or to be operating at high efficiency. intransitive
"The Blues' challenge had been rocking at that point, with Terry's centre-back partner Gary Cahill lost to injury and Barca having just levelled the tie through Busquets's neat, close-range finish from Isaac Cuenca's pull-back."
- 16 To wear (a piece of clothing, outfit etc.) successfully or with style; to carry off (a particular look, style). transitive
"I call all the shots, rip all the spots / Rock all the rocks, cop all the drops"
- 17 To be cool. intransitive, stative
"That band rocks!"
- 18 To make love to or have sex (with). ambitransitive, euphemistic, slang
"I wanna rock!"
- 19 To sway one's body as a stim. intransitive
"Tends to tap fingers on desk or spin ring on finger, especially when stressed. Sucks thumb in private. Loves to rock."
Proper Noun
- 1 A topographic surname from Middle English for someone living near a rock or an oak ( atter + oke ).
"Jada Pinkett Smith found herself at the center of conflict when her husband Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony March 27. Rock joked about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head – a look she has said is more than a style preference."
- 2 A male given name transferred from the surname.
- 3 A number of places in England:; A coastal village in St Minver Lowlands parish, north Cornwall (OS grid ref SW9375).
- 4 A number of places in England:; A hamlet in Membury parish, East Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref ST2702).
- 5 A number of places in England:; A village in Rennington parish, northern Northumberland (OS grid ref NU2020).
Show 16 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in England:; A hamlet in Curry Mallet parish, South Somerset district and North Curry parish, Somerset West and Taunton district, Somerset (OS grid ref ST3222).
- 7 A number of places in England:; A hamlet in Washington parish, Horsham district, West Sussex (OS grid ref TQ1214).
- 8 A number of places in England:; A village and civil parish in Wyre Forest district, Worcestershire (OS grid ref SO7371).
- 9 A place in Wales:; A hamlet in Blackwood community, Caerphilly borough county borough (OS grid ref ST1898).
- 10 A place in Wales:; A hamlet north-east of Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot borough county borough (OS grid ref SS7993).
- 11 The Rock, a village south-west of Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Cowley County, Kansas.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Maple Ridge Township, Delta County, Michigan.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Mercer County, West Virginia.
- 15 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Rock County, Wisconsin.
- 16 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Wood County, Wisconsin.
- 17 A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Rock Township.
- 18 the Rock; Nickname of Gibraltar.
- 19 the Rock; Nickname of Uluru. Australia
- 20 the Rock; Nickname of the prison on Alcatraz Island, USA.
- 21 the Rock; Nickname of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada
Antonyms
danish jord samplesfertile danish jordicelandic leirloamy topsoil
Example
"Passing through the strong wind, the planes rock like this, but don't worry."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rock"?
Common synonyms include: rock music, shake, stone, sway, sway, ace.
How do you use "rock" in a sentence?
Passing through the strong wind, the planes rock like this, but don't worry.
How do you pronounce "rock"?
Pronounced /ɹɒk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Inherited from Middle English rocke, rokke (“rock formation”), from Old English *rocc (“rock”), as in Old English stānrocc (“high stone rock, peak, obelisk”), and also later from Anglo-Norman roque, (compare Modern French roc, roche, rocher), from Medieval Latin rocca (attested 767), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be of Celtic (in particular, perhaps Gaulish) origin (compare Breton roc'h). Related also to Middle Low German rocke (“rock ledge”). One suggestion is that it derives from Vulgar Latin *rupica, from rupes (compare rupico).
Etymology 2
Inherited from Middle English rokken, from Old English roccian, from Proto-West Germanic *rokkōn, from Proto-Germanic *rukkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃ruknéh₂ti, from *h₃rewk-, *h₃runk-. See also obsolete Dutch rokken, Middle High German rocken (“to drag, jerk”), Modern German rücken (“to move, shift”), Icelandic rukka (“to yank”); also Latin runcāre (“to weed”), Latvian rũķēt (“to toss, dig”).
Etymology 3
Shortened from rock and roll. Since the meaning of rock has adapted to mean a simpler, more modern, metal-like genre, rock and roll has generally been left referring to earlier forms such as that originating in the 1950s, notably more swing-oriented style.
Etymology 4
From Middle English rok, rocke, rokke, perhaps from Middle Dutch rocke (whence Dutch rokken), Middle Low German rocken, or Old Norse rokkr (whence Icelandic / Faroese rokkur, Danish rok, Swedish spinnrock (“spinning wheel”)). Cognate with Old High German rocko (“distaff”).
Etymology 5
* As an English surname, from the noun rock. Compare Roach. * Also as an English surname, misdivision of Middle English atter oke (“at the oak”). Compare Nock. * As an English occupational surname, from Old Norse rokkr (“distaff”). Compare Rocker. * As an Irish surname, translated from names like Mac Conchairge (“son of the hound of the rock”), from cú + carraig, see also McHarg. * As a German surname Röck, variant of the personal name Rocco, see Roche. * Also as a German surname, from the noun Rock (“skirt gown”). * As a French surname, shortened from Roquebrune, Rocquebrune (see Rocque) or Larock. Compare Roch.