rock

I UK [rɒk] / US [rɑk] noun
Word forms "rock":
singular rock plural rocks
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1) [uncountable] the hard solid substance that forms part of the Earth's surface

Rainwater flows through soil and porous rock to reach underground streams.

We had to dig down through a twelve-inch layer of rock.

a) [countable] a large piece of stone that rises up from the ground or from under the sea

a castle built on a big rock

the Rock of Gibraltar

b) [countable] a large piece of stone lying on the ground

She ran over the fallen rocks towards him.

c) rocks

[plural] a group of rocks along the edge of the land or under the surface of the sea

The waves crashed against the rocks.

d) [countable] American a small stone

Protesters threw rocks at the police.

2) rock or rock music

[uncountable] rock music

a rock star

rock concerts

3) [uncountable] British a hard sweet in the shape of a solid tube called a stick. Rock is usually sold in seaside towns and has the name of the town written in it.

4) [countable] informal a jewel, especially a diamond

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be (caught/stuck) between a rock and a hard place — to be in a position in which you have to choose between two things that are not good

- get your rocks off

- on the rocks

- solid as a rock

II UK [rɒk] / US [rɑk] verb
Word forms "rock":
present tense I/you/we/they rock he/she/it rocks present participle rocking past tense rocked past participle rocked
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1)

a) [intransitive] to move backwards and forwards or from side to side in a gentle way

He sat rocking in his seat and staring out of the window.

Hold your knees close to your chest and rock from side to side.

b) [transitive] to make someone or something move backwards and forwards or from side to side in a gentle way

She rocked the child in her arms.

2) [transitive] mainly journalism to shock, surprise, or frighten someone

Spain has been rocked by another political scandal.

3)

a) [transitive] if an explosion or earthquake rocks something, it makes it shake violently

The blast rocked the houses in the street.

b) [intransitive] if something rocks, it shakes violently as a result of an explosion or an earthquake

The solid ground rocked beneath us.

4) [intransitive] informal to play or dance to rock music

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- be rocking

- rock the boat

- something rocks

Phrasal verbs:

- rock up