Rock Meaning

/ɹɒk/
A2

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA formation of minerals, specifically:

nounA formation of minerals, specifically:, The naturally occurring aggregate of solid mineral matter that constitutes a significant part of the earth's crust.

Passing through the strong wind, the planes rock like this, but don't worry.
Look out for rock slides.
They drilled through several layers of rock to reach the oil.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The child threw a small ____ into the pond and watched the ripples spread.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The geologist examined the ____ sample under a microscope to determine its mineral composition.

Etymology tree Medieval Latin roccabor.? Old English *rocc Early Medieval Latin rocca Anglo-Norman roquebor. Middle English rokke English rock Inherited from Middle English rocke, rokke (“rock formation”), from Old English *rocc (“rock”), as in Old English stānrocc (“high stone rock, peak, obelisk”), and also later from Anglo-Norman roque, (compare Modern French roc, roche, rocher), from Medieval Latin rocca (attested 767), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be of Celtic (in particular, perhaps Gaulish) origin (compare Breton roc'h). Related also to Middle Low German rocke (“rock ledge”). One suggestion is that it derives from Vulgar Latin *rupica, from rupes (compare rupico).

"Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale.[…]Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge." — 2013 June 29, “High and wet”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, archived from the original on 01 Nov 2020, page 28:
"This park’s strange and beautiful rock formations were formed by the Yellowstone River and various streams that have cut through the rock over millions of years, carving out hoodoos, spires and caprocks. The name Makoshika comes from a Lakota word for badlands." — 2018 July 17, Autumn Spanne, “Check out these crazy rock formations across the United States”, in CNN:
"This enormous, 1.7 million acre property offers hikes to spectacular formations like Metate Arch in Devil’s Garden and the Wahweap Hoodoos, slender, ghostly rocks that can reach several stories high." — 2018 July 17, Autumn Spanne, “Check out these crazy rock formations across the United States”, in CNN:
"I call all the shots, rip all the spots / Rock all the rocks, cop all the drops" — 1997, “Mo Money Mo Problems”, in Life After Death, performed by The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Ma$e and Diddy:
"Here she is, a billionaire’s wife, yet gripped by constant social anxiety, forever agonising that she’d worn her best rocks to an event that actually called for “patio jewellery” (necklaces $1m or under)." — 2025 June 27, Marina Hyde, “Anna Wintour has spent decades dictating a certain look for the super-rich. Then along came Lauren”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The child threw a small ____ into the pond and watched the ripples spread.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The geologist examined the ____ sample under a microscope to determine its mineral composition.

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