- 1 [uncountable, countable] the hard solid material that forms part of the surface of the earth and some other planets They drilled through several layers of rock to reach the oil. a cave with striking rock formations (= shapes made naturally from rock) The tunnel was blasted out of solid rock. volcanic/igneous/sedimentary, etc. rocks Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehard, solid, soft, … … of rockchunk, lump, piece, … verb + rockform, climb, skip, … rock + verbform, jut out rock + nountype, formation, structure, … phrasesas hard as a rock, as hard as rock, a layer of rock, … See full entry
- 2 [countable] a mass of rock standing above the earth’s surface or in the sea/ocean the Rock of Gibraltar The ship crashed into the infamous Sker Point rocks and broke into three pieces. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehard, solid, soft, … … of rockchunk, lump, piece, … verb + rockform, climb, skip, … rock + verbform, jut out rock + nountype, formation, structure, … phrasesas hard as a rock, as hard as rock, a layer of rock, … See full entry
- 3 [countable] a large single piece of rock They clambered over the rocks at the foot of the cliff. The sign said ‘Danger: falling rocks’. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehard, solid, soft, … … of rockchunk, lump, piece, … verb + rockform, climb, skip, … rock + verbform, jut out rock + nountype, formation, structure, … phrasesas hard as a rock, as hard as rock, a layer of rock, … See full entry stone
- 4 [countable] (North American English) a small stone Protesters pelted the soldiers with rocks. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelarge, small, heavy, … … of rocksmound, pile verb + rockpick up, pelt somebody with, throw, … See full entry music
- 5 (also rock music) [uncountable] a type of loud popular music, developed in the 1960s, with a strong beat played on electric guitars and drums punk rock a rock band/star Culture Rock music developed in the 1960s from rock and roll. Rock later developed into forms such as folk rock and heavy metal. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelive, acid, alternative, … rock + nounanthem, ballad, number, … phrasesrock and roll See full entry See related entries: Styles of music sweet/candy
- 6(British English) [uncountable] a type of hard sweet/candy made in long sticks, often sold in places where people go on holiday/vacation by the sea/ocean a stick of Brighton rock Culture Rock (= the sweet) is usually flavoured with peppermint and coloured (usually bright pink) on the outside. In Britain, rock is sold especially in seaside towns, and has the name of the town all through the length of the stick on the inside. see also Edinburgh rock See related entries: Sweets and desserts jewel
- 7[countable, usually plural] (North American English, informal) a precious stone, especially a diamond person
- 8[countable, usually singular] a person who is emotionally strong and who you can rely on He is my rock. Word Originnoun senses 1 to 4 and noun senses 6 to 7 Middle English: from Old French rocque, from medieval Latin rocca, of unknown ultimate origin. noun sense 5 late Old English roccian, probably from a Germanic base meaning ‘remove, move’; related to Dutch rukken ‘jerk, tug’ and German rücken ‘move’. The noun dates from the early 19th cent.Extra examples A great rock jutted out into the water. Ahead the vegetation broke into bare rock. Children were looking for crabs in the rock pools. Lars taught me to skip rocks. Ryan changed the radio to a rock station. She was a rock chick through and through. Signs warn of the perils of falling rock. Solid rock is broken down by weathering. The castle is perched on a massive outcrop of rock. The path had been blocked by a rock fall. The river runs between walls of sheer rock. The rocks were slippery as I tried to climb them. They used to throw rocks at neighborhood dogs. You slept like a rock last night. an avalanche of loose rock influential rock critics one of the biggest bands on the rock circuit rocks that formed beneath the sea the king of rock and roll Demonstrators threw rocks at the police. a sea cave with striking rock formations volcanic/igneous/sedimentary rocksIdioms
- 1to have an orgasm
- 2to do something that you really enjoy He gets his rocks off listening to rap.
- 1a relationship or business that is on the rocks is having difficulties and is likely to fail soon Sue's marriage is on the rocks.
- 2(of drinks) served with pieces of ice but no water Scotch on the rocks
hard material
in a situation where you have to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant
extremely steady and calm; that you can rely on More Like ThisSimiles in idioms (as) bald as a coot, (as) blind as a bat, (as) bright as a button, (as) bold as brass, as busy as a bee, as clean as a whistle, (as) dead as a/the dodo, (as) deaf as a post, (as) dull as ditchwater, (as) fit as a fiddle, as flat as a pancake, (as) good as gold, (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare, (as) miserable/ugly as sin, as old as the hills, (as) pleased as Punch, as pretty as a picture, (as) regular as clockwork, (as) quick as a flash, (as) safe as houses, (as) sound as a bell, (as) steady as a rock, (as) thick as two short planks, (as) tough as old bootsSee worksheet.
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