Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - rock

~1 n 1 »STONE« a) stone, or a type of stone that forms part of the Earth's surface  (To build the tunnel, they had to cut through 500 feet of solid rock. | rock formation (=a shape made naturally from rock))  (the rock formations of the Arizona desert) b) a piece of stone, especially a large one  (Kim sat down on a rock.) c) rocks a line of rock under or next to the sea  (A ship had been driven onto the rocks during the storm.) 2 »MUSIC« also rock music a type of popular modern music with a strong loud beat, played using guitars and drums  (a rock concert | rock veteran, Eric Clapton) 3 as solid/steady as a rock a) very strongly built or well supported and not likely to break or fall 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  (- see also rock-solid) 4 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  (Tim's marriage is on the rocks.) 5 scotch/vodka etc on the rocks an alcoholic drink that is served with ice but no water 6 »SWEET FOOD« BrE a hard sweet food made in long round pieces  (a stick of Blackpool rock) 7 »JEWEL« C usually plural informal a diamond or other jewel 8 be (stuck) between a rock and a hard place to have a choice between two things, both of which are unpleasant 9 get your rocks off slang if a man gets his rocks off, he has sex ~2 v 1 to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side, or to make something do this  (Paul sat gently rocking the child in his arms. | The waves made the boat rock from side to side. | rock with laughter)  (Jim rocked with laughter when he heard what had happened.) 2 to make the people in a place or organization feel very shocked or surprised  (In 1970, the city of Newark was rocked by a major scandal.) 3 rock the boat informal to cause problems for other members of a group by criticizing something or trying to change the way something is done  (A lot of people didn't really agree with the policy, but they didn't want to rock the boat.) 4 if an explosion, or earthquake (=violent movement of the earth) rocks an area, it makes it shake