rock

II. rock² BrE AmE verb
[Language: Old English; Origin: roccian]
1. [intransitive and transitive] to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side, or to make something do this ⇨ sway:
She covered her face, rocking to and fro in her grief.
The waves rocked the boat from side to side.
Paul sat gently rocking the child in his arms.
Jim rocked with laughter when he heard what had happened.
2. [transitive]
a) to make the people in a place or organization feel very shocked – used in news reports SYN shake:
The scandal rocked the nation.
b) to make the future of something seem less certain or steady than it was before, especially because of problems or changes SYN shake:
Another financial blow has rocked the industry.
The theory rocked the foundations of social and moral life.
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:
He kept his feelings to himself, not wanting to rock the boat.
4. [transitive] if an explosion or ↑earthquake rocks an area, it makes it shake:
Residents had only a few minutes to escape before the blast rocked their houses.
5. somebody/something rocks spoken informal said to show that you strongly approve of someone or something
6. rock sb’s world informal to cause someone to think about something or someone in a completely new way

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

verb

MOVE GENTLY
1. intransitive, transitive to move gently backwards and forwards or from side to side; to make sb/sth move in this way
• (+ adv./prep.) The boat rocked from side to side in the waves.
• She was rocking backwards and forwards in her seat.

• ~ sb/sth (+ adv./prep.) He rocked the baby gently in his arms.

SHOCK

2. transitive, often passive ~ sb/sth (rather informal) to shock sb/sth very much or make them afraid
• The country was rocked by a series of political scandals.

• The news rocked the world.

SHAKE

3. intransitive, transitive to shake or to make sth shake violently
• The house rocked when the bomb exploded.
• ~ sth The town was rocked by an earthquake.

• (figurative) The scandal rocked the government (= made the situation difficult for it).

DANCE

4. intransitive (old-fashioned) to dance to rock music

BE GOOD
5. sth rocks intransitive (slang) used to say that sth is very good
• Her new movie rocks!
more at shake/rock the foundations of sthshake/rock sth to its foundations at foundation

Word Origin:
n. senses 1 to 4 and n. senses 6 to 7 Middle English Old French rocque medieval Latin rocca
n. sense 5 and v. late Old English roccian Germanic ‘remove, move’ Dutch rukken ‘jerk, tug’ German rücken ‘move’

Example Bank:
• He rocked back and forth in his chair.
• She gently rocked the baby in her arms.
• The boat rocked slightly.
• The boat rocked violently in the huge waves.
• The boat rocked from side to side on the water.
• The raft was rocked by a huge wave.
• The whole house rocked when the bomb exploded.

• They had only a few minutes to get out before the blast rocked their houses.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

rock / rɒk / / rɑːk / verb (MOVE)

C2 [ I or T ] to (cause someone or something to) move backwards and forwards or from side to side in a regular way:

He picked up the baby and gently rocked her to sleep .

If you rock back on that chair, you're going to break it.

[ T ] If a person or place is rocked by something such as an explosion, the force of it makes the person or place shake:

The explosion, which rocked the city, killed 300.

rock / rɒk / / rɑːk / verb (SHOCK)

[ T ] If an event rocks a group of people or society, it causes feelings of shock:

The managing director's resignation rocked the whole company.

rock / rɒk / / rɑːk / verb (WEAR SUCCESSFULLY)

[ T ] slang to wear a particular style of clothing, etc. and look good or fashionable:

There are celebrities over 40 years old who can still rock a tattoo.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

rock

[rɒ̱k]
♦♦
rocks, rocking, rocked
1) N-UNCOUNT Rock is the hard substance which the Earth is made of.
  The hills above the valley are bare rock...
  A little way below the ridge was an outcrop of rock that made a rough shelter.
2) N-COUNT A rock is a large piece of rock that sticks up out of the ground or the sea, or that has broken away from a mountain or a cliff.
  She sat cross-legged on the rock.
  ...the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks...
  He and two friends were climbing a rock face when they heard cries for help.
3) N-COUNT A rock is a piece of rock that is small enough for you to pick up.
  She bent down, picked up a rock and threw it into the trees.
  Syn:
  stone
4) V-ERG When something rocks or when you rock it, it moves slowly and regularly backwards and forwards or from side to side.
  [V prep/adv] His body rocked from side to side with the train...
  [V prep/adv] He stood a few moments, rocking back and forwards on his heels...
  [V n] She sat on the porch and rocked the baby. [Also V]
5) V-ERG If an explosion or an earthquake rocks a building or an area, it causes the building or area to shake. [JOURNALISM]
  [V n] Three people were injured yesterday when an explosion rocked one of Britain's best known film studios.
  [V n] ...a country that's rocked by dozens of earthquakes every year...
  As the buildings rocked under heavy shell-fire, he took refuge in the cellars.
  Syn:
  shake
6) VERB If an event or a piece of news rocks a group or society, it shocks them or makes them feel less secure. [JOURNALISM]
  [V n] His death rocked the fashion business.
  [V n] ...the latest scandal to rock the monarchy...
  [V n] Wall Street was rocked by the news and shares fell 4.3 per cent by the end of trading.
  Syn:
  shake
7) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Rock is loud music with a strong beat that is usually played and sung by a small group of people using instruments such as electric guitars and drums.
  He once told an interviewer that he didn't even like rock music.
  ...a rock concert.
  ...famous rock stars.
8) N-UNCOUNT Rock is a sweet that is made in long, hard sticks and is often sold in towns by the sea in Britain.
  ...a stick of rock.
9) PHRASE: PHR after v If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action.
10) PHRASE: usu n PHR If you have an alcoholic drink such as whisky on the rocks, you have it with ice cubes in it.
  I could do with a Scotch on the rocks.
  Syn:
  with ice
11) PHRASE: v-link PHR If something such as a marriage or a business is on the rocks, it is experiencing very severe difficulties and looks likely to end very soon.
  She confided to her mother six months ago that her marriage was on the rocks...
  Our film industry is on the rocks.
12) to rock the boat → see boat

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹rock /ˈrɑːk/ verb rocks; rocked; rock·ing
1 : to move (someone or something) back and forth or from side to side

[+ obj]

• She gently rocked the baby to sleep.
• Waves rocked the boat.

[no obj]

• He rocked back and forth while he stood waiting.
• The boat rocked back and forth on the waves.
2 [+ obj] : to cause (something) to shake violently
• An earthquake rocked the town.
• The building was rocked by an explosion.
- sometimes used figuratively
• The discovery rocked [=shook] the very foundations of their theory.
3 [+ obj] informal
a : to cause (someone or something) to be upset or shocked
• The news of the murders rocked the town.
b : to affect or influence (someone or something) very powerfully
• Their invention rocked the computer industry.
c : to entertain (someone) in a very powerful and effective way
• The band rocked the crowd.
• His performance rocked the house. [=the audience loved his performance]
• The new video game will rock your world. [=you will really like the new video game]
4 [no obj] informal : to sing, dance to, or play rock music
• We were rocking all night long.
5 [no obj] slang : to be very enjoyable, pleasing, or effective
• Her new car really rocks. [=her new car is really great]
rock out [phrasal verb] informal : to play music in a loud or energetic way
• The band rocks out on their new album.
rock the boat
- see ¹boat
- rocking noun, pl -ings [count, noncount]
• a slow rocking