Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms
Synonym Game
earth
mass
PLAY

rocking

 [rok]   Origin

rock

2   [rok]
verb (used without object)
1.
to move or sway to and fro or from side to side.
2.
to be moved or swayed powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.
3.
Mining. (of sand or gravel) to be washed in a cradle.
4.
to dance to or play rock music.
5.
(of popular music) to have the driving beat characteristic of rock.
EXPAND
6.
Slang. to be very good, impressive, exciting, or effective: This show really rocks.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
7.
to move or sway to and fro or from side to side, especially gently and soothingly.
8.
to lull in security, hope, etc.
9.
to affect deeply; stun; move or sway powerfully, as with emotion: Everyone in the courtroom was rocked by the verdict.
10.
to shake or disturb violently: A thunderous explosion rocked the waterfront.
11.
Slang.
a.
to stir up; animate: We're gonna rock this joint tonight!
b.
to use, wear, or display (a look, garment, etc.) in a showy, self-confident manner and to great effect: Only you could rock that hat!
EXPAND
12.
Graphic Arts. to roughen the surface of (a copperplate) with a rocker preparatory to scraping a mezzotint.
13.
Mining. cradle (def. 22).
COLLAPSE

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Rocking is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
14.
a rocking movement: the gentle rock of the boat.
15.
rock-'n'-roll (def. 1).
adjective
16.
rock-'n'-roll (def. 3).
Idiom
17.
rock the boat, Informal. to disrupt the smooth functioning or routine of something: Don't rock the boat by demanding special treatment from management.
Origin:
before 1100; Middle English rocken, Old English roccian; cognate with Middle Dutch rocken; akin to German rücken; Old Norse rykkja to jerk

Related forms
rock·a·ble, adjective
rock·ing·ly, adverb
un·rocked, adjective

Synonyms
1. roll, shake. See swing1.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To rocking
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rock
"to dance to popular music with a strong beat," 1948 (first attested in song title "We're gonna rock"), from rock (v.1), in earlier blues slang sense of "to cause to move with musical rhythm" (1922); often used at first with sexual overtones (cf. 1922 song title "My Man Rocks
EXPAND
Me (with One Steady Roll)"). Sense developed early 1950s to "play or dance to rock and roll music." Noun sense of "musical rhythm characterized by a strong beat" is from 1946, in blues slang. Rocksteady, Jamaican pop music style (precursor of reggae), is attested from 1969.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

Rock (rŏk), John. 1890-1984.

American gynecologist and obstetrician who helped develop (1954) the first effective oral contraceptive.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
rock   (rŏk)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A relatively hard, naturally occurring mineral material. Rock can consist of a single mineral or of several minerals that are either tightly compacted or held together by a cementlike mineral matrix. The three main types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

  2. A piece of such material; a stone.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

rock definition


  1. n.
    and rock candy. crack, a crystallized form of cocaine. (Drugs. See also rocks.) : Some call it rock candy, and some call it crack.
  2. n.
    a crystallized form of heroin used for smoking. (Drugs.) : Max is hooked on rock—the kind that you smoke. , Powder is everywhere, but you can hardly find rock anymore.
  3. n.
    a diamond or other gemstone. : Look at the size of that rock in her ring.

  4. Go to rocks. :
  5. n.
    a baseball; a basketball. : Michael passed the rock to Scottie, who turned and dropped it in the basket.
  6. in.
    to be really great. : The concerts didn't rock, but we had a good time throwing chairs.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

rocking definition


  1. mod.
    excellent. (Collegiate.) : We had a rocking time!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT