rock

1 noun

1 STONE

a) (U) stone, or a type of stone that forms part of the Earth's surface: To build the tunnel, they had to cut through 500 feet of solid rock. | rock formation (=a shape made naturally from rock): the rock formations of the Arizona desert

b) (C) a piece of stone, especially a large one: Kim sat down on a rock.

c) rocks (plural) a line of rock under or next to the sea: A ship had been driven onto the rocks during the storm.

2 MUSIC (U) also rock music a type of popular modern music with a strong loud beat, played using guitars and drums: a rock concert | rock veteran, Eric Clapton

3 as solid/steady as a rock

a) very strongly built or well supported and not likely to break or fall

b) someone who is as solid or steady as a rock is very strong and calm in difficult situations and you can depend on them

—see also: rock-solid

4 be on the rocks informal a relationship or business that is on the rocks is having a lot of problems and is likely to fail soon: Tim's marriage is on the rocks.

5 scotch/vodka etc on the rocks an alcoholic drink that is served with ice but no water

6 SWEET FOOD (U) BrE a hard sweet food made in long round pieces: a stick of Blackpool rock

7 JEWEL (countable usually plural) informal a diamond or other jewel

8 be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place to have a choice between two things, both of which are unpleasant

9 get your rocks off slang if a man gets his rocks off, he has sex

2 verb

1 (I, T) to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side, or to make something do this: Paul sat gently rocking the child in his arms. | The waves made the boat rock from side to side. | rock with laughter: Jim rocked with laughter when he heard what had happened.

2 (T) to make the people in a place or organization feel very shocked or surprised: In 1970, the city of Newark was rocked by a major scandal.

3 rock the boat informal to cause problems for other members of a group by criticizing something or trying to change the way something is done: A lot of people didn't really agree with the policy, but they didn't want to rock the boat.

4 (T) if an explosion, or earthquake (=violent movement of the earth) rocks an area, it makes it shake