rock

Topic: MUSIC

Sense: 1, 3-10

Date:	1300-1400
Language:	Old North French
Origin:	roque, from Vulgar Latin rocca

Sense: 2

Date:	1900-2000
Origin:	ROCK²

rock
1 noun

rock1 S2 W2 See pronunciation table in "How to use dictionary" pages

stone

a) [uncountable]HEG the hard substance that forms the main surface of the Earth [↪ stone]:

Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM

To build the tunnel, they had to cut through 500 feet of solid rock.

Most of the country is desert and bare rock.

massive rock formations (=shapes made naturally from rock)

ancient dark volcanic rock

b) [countable]DN a piece of rock, especially a large one that sticks up from the ground:

Jack stood on a rock for a better view.

During the storm a ship had been driven onto the rocks (=a line of rocks under or next to the sea).

music

[uncountable] also rock musicAPM a type of popular modern music with a strong loud beat, played using guitars and drums

rock band/group

Komuro formed a rock band with some friends while in college.

the late rock star, Freddie Mercury

The stadium has hosted numerous rock concerts.

➔ hard rock

; ➔ punk rock

at punk (1)

(as) solid/steady as a rock

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

a large sofa, solid as a rock

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 ➔ rock-solid

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 [= in trouble]:

I'm afraid Tim's marriage is on the rocks.

scotch/vodka etc on the rocks

informalDFD an alcoholic drink that is served with ice but no water

sweet food

[uncountable] British EnglishDF a hard sweet made in long round pieces:

a stick of rock

drug

a) [uncountable] a very pure form of the illegal drug cocaine that some people use for pleasure

b) [countable] a small amount of this drug

be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place

to have a choice between two things, both of which are unpleasant or dangerous

get your rocks off

informal not polite if a man gets his rocks off, he has sex

jewel

[countable usually plural] old-fashioned informalHEG a diamond or other jewel

Definition of rock from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic MUSIC