rockefeller definition | Dictionary.com

Rock⋅e⋅fel⋅ler

[rok-uh-fel-er]

–noun

1.	John D(a⋅vi⋅son) [dey-vuh-suhn] Show IPA Pronunciation , 1839–1937, and his son John D(avison), Jr., 1874–1960, U.S. oil magnates and philanthropists.

2.	Nelson A(ldrich), 1908–79, U.S. political leader: governor of New York 1959–73; vice president of the U.S. 1974–77 (son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.).

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Rock·e·fel·ler (rŏk'ə-fěl'ər) Pronunciation Key
American family, including John Davison (1839-1937), an oil magnate who amassed great wealth through the Standard Oil Company and spent about half of his fortune on philanthropic works. His son John Davison, Jr. (1874-1960), continued his father's work and had five sons, including Nelson Aldrich (1908-1979), who was governor of New York (1959-1973) and Vice President of the United States (1974-1977) under Gerald Ford.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Rockefeller

"immensely rich man," 1938, in ref. to U.S. financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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