rock
♦♦ rock /r'ɒk/ (rocks rocking rocked)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Rock is the hard substance which the Earth is made of.
The hills above the valley are bare rock...
2 [N-COUNT]
A rock is a large piece of rock that sticks up out of the ground or the sea, or that has broken away from a mountain or a cliff.
She sat cross-legged on the rock.
3 [N-COUNT]
A rock is a piece of rock that is small enough for you to pick up.
She bent down, picked up a rock and threw it into the trees.
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n, also V
When something rocks or when you rock it, it moves slowly and regularly backwards and forwards or from side to side.
His body rocked from side to side with the train...
She sat on the porch and rocked the baby.
5 [VERB] V n, V
If an explosion or an earthquake rocks a building or an area, it causes the building or area to shake. You can also say that the building or area rocks. (JOURNALISM)
Three people were injured yesterday when an explosion rocked one of Britain's best known film studios...
As the buildings rocked under heavy shell-fire, he took refuge in the cellars.
6 [VERB] V n
If an event or a piece of news rocks a group or society, it shocks them or makes them feel less secure. (JOURNALISM)
His death rocked the fashion business.
7 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Rock is loud music with a strong beat that is usually played and sung by a small group of people using instruments such as electric guitars and drums.
...a rock concert.
...famous rock stars.
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Rock is a sweet that is made in long, hard sticks and is often sold in towns by the sea in Britain.
...a stick of rock.
9 [PHRASE] usu n PHR
If you have an alcoholic drink such as whisky on the rocks, you have it with ice cubes in it.
...a Scotch on the rocks.
= with ice
10 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If something such as a marriage or a business is on the rocks, it is experiencing very severe difficulties and looks likely to end very soon.
She confided to her mother six months ago that her marriage was on the rocks...
11
to rock the boat: see boatrock and roll
also rock'n'roll
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Rock and roll is a kind of popular music developed in the 1950s which has a strong beat and is played on electrical instruments.
...Elvis Presley-the King of Rock and Roll.rock bot|tom
also rock-bottom
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
If something has reached rock bottom, it is at such a low level that it cannot go any lower.
Morale in the armed forces was at rock bottom...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
If someone has reached rock bottom, they are in such a bad state or are so completely depressed that their situation could not get any worse.
She was at rock bottom. Her long-term love affair was breaking up and so was she.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A rock-bottom price or level is a very low one, mainly in advertisements.
What they do offer is a good product at a rock-bottom price.rock climb|er (rock climbers)
[N-COUNT]
A rock climber is a person whose hobby or sport is climbing cliffs or large rocks.rock climb|ing
also rock-climbing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Rock climbing is the activity of climbing cliffs or large rocks, as a hobby or sport.rock gar|den (rock gardens)
[N-COUNT]
A rock garden is a garden which consists of rocks with small plants growing among them.rock pool (rock pools)
[N-COUNT]
A rock pool is a small pool between rocks on the edge of the sea.rock salt
[N-UNCOUNT]
Rock salt is salt that is formed in the ground. It is obtained by mining.rock steady
also rock-steady
[ADJ]
Something that is rock steady is very firm and does not shake or move about.
He reached for a cigarette and lit it, fingers rock steady.
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Rock is the hard substance which the Earth is made of.
The hills above the valley are bare rock...
2 [N-COUNT]
A rock is a large piece of rock that sticks up out of the ground or the sea, or that has broken away from a mountain or a cliff.
She sat cross-legged on the rock.
3 [N-COUNT]
A rock is a piece of rock that is small enough for you to pick up.
She bent down, picked up a rock and threw it into the trees.
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n, also V
When something rocks or when you rock it, it moves slowly and regularly backwards and forwards or from side to side.
His body rocked from side to side with the train...
She sat on the porch and rocked the baby.
5 [VERB] V n, V
If an explosion or an earthquake rocks a building or an area, it causes the building or area to shake. You can also say that the building or area rocks. (JOURNALISM)
Three people were injured yesterday when an explosion rocked one of Britain's best known film studios...
As the buildings rocked under heavy shell-fire, he took refuge in the cellars.
6 [VERB] V n
If an event or a piece of news rocks a group or society, it shocks them or makes them feel less secure. (JOURNALISM)
His death rocked the fashion business.
7 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Rock is loud music with a strong beat that is usually played and sung by a small group of people using instruments such as electric guitars and drums.
...a rock concert.
...famous rock stars.
8 [N-UNCOUNT]
Rock is a sweet that is made in long, hard sticks and is often sold in towns by the sea in Britain.
...a stick of rock.
9 [PHRASE] usu n PHR
If you have an alcoholic drink such as whisky on the rocks, you have it with ice cubes in it.
...a Scotch on the rocks.
= with ice
10 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If something such as a marriage or a business is on the rocks, it is experiencing very severe difficulties and looks likely to end very soon.
She confided to her mother six months ago that her marriage was on the rocks...
11
to rock the boat: see boatrock and roll
also rock'n'roll
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Rock and roll is a kind of popular music developed in the 1950s which has a strong beat and is played on electrical instruments.
...Elvis Presley-the King of Rock and Roll.rock bot|tom
also rock-bottom
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
If something has reached rock bottom, it is at such a low level that it cannot go any lower.
Morale in the armed forces was at rock bottom...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
If someone has reached rock bottom, they are in such a bad state or are so completely depressed that their situation could not get any worse.
She was at rock bottom. Her long-term love affair was breaking up and so was she.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A rock-bottom price or level is a very low one, mainly in advertisements.
What they do offer is a good product at a rock-bottom price.rock climb|er (rock climbers)
[N-COUNT]
A rock climber is a person whose hobby or sport is climbing cliffs or large rocks.rock climb|ing
also rock-climbing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Rock climbing is the activity of climbing cliffs or large rocks, as a hobby or sport.rock gar|den (rock gardens)
[N-COUNT]
A rock garden is a garden which consists of rocks with small plants growing among them.rock pool (rock pools)
[N-COUNT]
A rock pool is a small pool between rocks on the edge of the sea.rock salt
[N-UNCOUNT]
Rock salt is salt that is formed in the ground. It is obtained by mining.rock steady
also rock-steady
[ADJ]
Something that is rock steady is very firm and does not shake or move about.
He reached for a cigarette and lit it, fingers rock steady.