- [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 rocks
Extra ExamplesTopics Geographya2- Ahead the vegetation broke into bare rock.
- The castle is perched on a massive outcrop of rock.
- The river runs between walls of sheer rock.
- rocks that formed beneath the sea
- an avalanche of loose rock
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hard
- solid
- soft
- …
- chunk
- lump
- piece
- …
- form
- climb
- skip
- …
- form
- jut out
- type
- formation
- structure
- …
- as hard as a rock
- as hard as rock
- a layer of rock
- …
- [countable] a mass of rock standing above the earth’s surface or in the sea
- the Rock of Gibraltar
- The ship crashed into the infamous Sker Point rocks and broke into three pieces.
- The ship hit some rocks and sank.
- A great rock jutted out into the water.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hard
- solid
- soft
- …
- chunk
- lump
- piece
- …
- form
- climb
- skip
- …
- form
- jut out
- type
- formation
- structure
- …
- as hard as a rock
- as hard as rock
- a layer of rock
- …
- [countable] a large single piece of rock
- They clambered over the rocks at the foot of the cliff.
- The sign said ‘Danger: falling rocks’.
- We made our way down into the river bed and stepped from rock to rock.
Extra Examples- The path had been blocked by a rock fall.
- The rocks were slippery as I tried to climb them.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hard
- solid
- soft
- …
- chunk
- lump
- piece
- …
- form
- climb
- skip
- …
- form
- jut out
- type
- formation
- structure
- …
- as hard as a rock
- as hard as rock
- a layer of rock
- …
- [countable] (North American English) a small stone
- Protesters pelted the soldiers with rocks.
Extra Examples- Lars taught me to skip rocks.
- They used to throw rocks at neighborhood dogs.
- Demonstrators threw rocks at the police.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- large
- small
- heavy
- …
- mound
- pile
- pick up
- pelt somebody with
- throw
- …
- (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/indie/classic rock
- a rock band/star/concert
- a rock musician/song/album
- I hate rap but I like rock.
CultureRock music developed in the 1960s from rock and roll. Rock later developed into forms such as folk rock and heavy metal.Extra ExamplesTopics Musica2- Ryan changed the radio to a rock station.
- She was a rock chick through and through.
- influential rock critics
- one of the biggest bands on the rock circuit
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- live
- acid
- alternative
- …
- anthem
- ballad
- number
- …
- rock and roll
- (British English) [uncountable] a type of hard sweet made in long sticks, often sold in places where people go on holiday by the sea
- a stick of Brighton rock
CultureThe sweet called rock usually tastes of peppermint and is coloured on the outside. In Britain rock usually has the name of the town by the sea where it is sold all through the length of the stick on the inside.see also Edinburgh rockTopics Foodc2 - [countable, usually plural] (informal) a precious stone, especially a diamond
- [countable, usually singular] a person who is emotionally strong and who you can rely on
- He is my rock.
hard material
stone
music
sweet/candy
jewel
person
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.
Idioms
See rock in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee rock in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English(caught/stuck) between a rock and a hard place
- in a situation where you have to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant
get your rocks off (slang)
- to have an orgasm
- to do something that you really enjoy
- He gets his rocks off listening to rap.
on the rocks
- a relationship or business that is on the rocks is having difficulties and is likely to fail soon
- Sue's marriage is on the rocks.
- (of drinks) served with pieces of ice but no water
- Scotch on the rocks
(as) steady as a rock
- extremely steady and calm; that you can rely onMore Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles 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/proud 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 boots
Check pronunciation:
rock