rock definition

1. A large concreted mass of stony material; a large fixed stone or crag. See Stone. "Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I." (Sir W. Scott)

2. <geology> Any natural deposit forming a part of the earth's crust, whether consolidated or not, including sand, earth, clay, etc, when in natural beds.

3. That which resembles a rock in firmness; a defense; a support; a refuge. "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress." (2 Sam. Xxii. 2)

4. Anything which causes a disaster or wreck resembling the wreck of a vessel upon a rock.

5. <zoology> The striped bass. See Bass.

This word is frequently used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, rock-bound, rock-built, rock-ribbed, rock-roofed, and the like. Rock alum. [Probably so called by confusion with F. Roche a rock] Same as Roche alum. Rock barnacle, any one of several species of wrens of the genus Salpinctes, native of the arid plains of Lower California and Mexico.

Origin: OF. Roke, F. Roche; cf. Armor. Roc'h, and AS. Rocc.