rock

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   pitching dangerously to one side

   The rock of the boat was making me feel ill.

2. 2
   noun

   a genre of popular music originating in the 1950s, usually featuring an electric guitar

   I usually listen to rock on the weekends.

3. 3
   noun

   hard bright-colored stick candy, typically flavored with peppermint

   I bought some rock at the beach.

4. 4
   noun

   a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

   They threw rocks at the window, which almost broke it.

5. 5
   noun

   someone who is strong and stable and dependable, figuratively

   You've always been a rock in my life and I really appreciate that.

6. 6
   noun

   material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust

   That mountain is solid rock – probably granite, in fact.

7. 7
   verb

   to move back and forth or sideways

   The ship was rocking, throwing me off balance.

8. 8
   verb

   to cause to move back and forth

   I rocked the cradle to put the baby to sleep.

Etymology

* As an English surname, from the noun rock. Compare Roach. * Also as an English surname, misdivision of Middle English atter oke (“at the oak”). Compare Nock. * As an English occupational surname, from Old Norse rokkr (“distaff”). Compare Rocker. * As an Irish surname, translated from names like Mac Conchairge (“son of the hound of the rock”), from cú + carraig, see also McHarg. * As a German surname Röck, variant of the personal name Rocco, see Roche. * Also as a German surname, from the noun Rock (“skirt gown”). * As a French surname, shortened from Roquebrune, Rocquebrune (see Rocque) or L…