rock
1 of 4verb
ˈräk 
rocked; rocking; rocks
transitive verb
1
: to move back and forth in or as if in a cradle
She gently rocked the baby to sleep.
2
a
: to cause to sway back and forth
a boat rocked by the waves
b(1)
: to cause to shake violently
An earthquake rocked the town.
(2)
: to daze with or as if with a vigorous blow
A hard right rocked the contender.
(3)
: to astonish or disturb greatly
The scandal rocked the community.
3
: to rouse to excitement (as by performing rock music)
The band rocked the crowd.
4
informal : to wear, display, or feature (something striking, distinctive, or attractive)
Carly Patterson is rocking a tight yellow T-shirt with jeans and high wooden sandals, belting her lyrics into a microphone.
Kate Hairopolous
Kate HairopolousIn the picture he's rocking a beard, a pair of shades and a striped t-shirt. Sam Haysom
Sam Haysomintransitive verb
1
: to become moved backward and forward under often violent impact
The tower rocked under the impact of the hurricane.
also : to move gently back and forth
rocked on the balls of his feet
2
: to move forward at a steady pace
also : to move forward at a high speed
the train rocked through the countryside
3
: to sing, dance to, or play rock music
The band was rocking all night long.
4
slang : to be extremely enjoyable, pleasing, or effective
her new car rocks
rock
2 of 4noun (1)
often attributive
1
: a rocking movement
2
: popular music usually played on electronically amplified instruments and characterized by a persistent heavily accented beat, repetition of simple phrases, and often country, folk, and blues elements
rock
3 of 4noun (2)
1
: a large mass of stone forming a cliff, promontory, or peak
2
: a concreted mass of stony material
also : broken pieces of such masses
3
: consolidated or unconsolidated solid mineral matter
also : a particular mass of it
4
a
: something like a rock in firmness:
(1)
: foundation, support
The superintendent describes [Michael] Doran as a rock on which the success of the school is and will continue to be built. Henry County (Kentucky) Local
Henry County (Kentucky) Local (2)
: refuge
a rock of independent thought … in an ocean of parochialism Thomas Molnar
Thomas Molnar b
: something that threatens or causes disaster —often used in plural
By the late 1930's, the university, so near the rocks in preceding years, had become one of the best-rounded educational institutions in the country. — Current Biography
5
a
: a flavored stick candy with color running through
b
: rock candy sense 1
6
slang
a
: gem
b
: diamond
7
a
: a small crystallized mass of crack cocaine
b
: crack sense 9
8
: the ball used in basketball
Who's going to fight through screens or risk lumps and lacerations lunging into the stands after the rock? Chris Broussard
Chris Broussard rock adjective
rocklike
ˈräk-ˌlīk
adjective rock
4 of 4noun (3)
1
: distaff
2
: the wool or flax on a distaff
Synonyms
Verb
- careen
- lurch
- pitch
- roll
- seesaw
- sway
- toss
- wobble
- wabble
Noun (2)
- brilliant
- gem
- gemstone
- jewel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She gently rocked the baby to sleep. He rocked back and forth while he stood waiting. The boat rocked back and forth on the waves. An earthquake rocked the town. The building was rocked by an explosion. The news of the murders rocked the town. Their invention rocked the computer industry. The band rocked the crowd. See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English rokken, from Old English roccian; akin to Old High German rucken to cause to move
Noun (2)
Middle English rokke, from Old French dialect (Norman & Picard) roke, from Vulgar Latin *rocca
Noun (3)
Middle English roc, from Middle Dutch rocke; akin to Old High German rocko distaff
First Known Use
Verb
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing rock
Kids Definition
rock 1 of 3
verb
ˈräk
rocked; rocking
1
: to move gently back and forth or side to side
2
: to cause (something) to shake violently
An earthquake rocked the town.
rock
2 of 3noun
1
: solid mineral deposits
The bulldozer hit rock.
2
: a mass of stone The ship washed up on the rocks. I picked up a rock from the path.
rock
3 of 3noun
1
: a rocking movement
2
: popular music played on instruments that are amplified electronically
Medical Definition
rock
noun
ˈräk
1
: a small crystallized mass of crack cocaine
2
: crack
called also rock cocaine
Geographical Definition
Rock
geographical name
ˈräk
river 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois flowing south and southwest into the Mississippi River at the city of Rock Island
rocked
verb
1
as in lurched
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lurched
- shook
- swayed
- rolled
- jerked
- tossed
- wobbled
- halted
- vibrated
- careened
- seesawed
- tumbled
- faltered
- jolted
- weaved
- tottered
- reeled
- pitched
- stumbled
- hobbled
- floundered
- wabbled
- staggered
- bucked
- wavered
- teetered
- waddled
- toddled
- blundered
- hitched
- vacillated
- oscillated
- undulated
- doddered
- waggled
- wagged
2
as in shook
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back Synonyms & Similar Words
- shook
- faltered
- wobbled
- trembled
- lurched
- shuddered
- tottered
- vibrated
- wavered
- teetered
- quivered
- wabbled
- quaked
- stumbled
- floundered
- toddled
- weaved
- reeled
- staggered
- careened
- quavered
3
as in stunned
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran Synonyms & Similar Words
- stunned
- dazed
- paralyzed
- slammed
- struck
- hit
- punched
- smacked
- slapped
- knocked silly
- pounded
- banged
- pummeled
- whacked
- bopped
- thumped
- hammered
- deadened
- battered
- buffeted
- rapped
- clobbered
- knocked out
- bashed
- slugged
- socked
- thwacked
- numbed
- stupefied
- chopped
- knocked for a loop
- walloped
- beat
- clocked
- belted
- whaled
- bludgeoned
- swatted
- smote
- mauled
- pummelled
- pelted
- benumbed
- bonked
- knocked down
- mangled
- drubbed
- cuffed
- pasted
- bowled over
- bunged
- clouted
4
as in shocked
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city Synonyms & Similar Words
- stunned
- shocked
- amazed
- surprised
- startled
- astonished
- thunderstruck
- astounded
- stupefied
- flabbergasted
- dumbfounded
- took aback
- floored
- blindsided
- jarred
- took by surprise
- bowled over
- perplexed
- bewildered
- dazed
- shook up
- dumfounded
- disconcerted
- befuddled
- surprized
- blew away
- confused
- nonplussed
- confounded
- muddled
- discomfited
- dismayed
- knocked for a loop
- nonplused