rock
ROK
rɒk
The solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets, exposed on the surface or underlying the soil or oceans.
An aggregate of one or more minerals. Can be igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.
The story behind the word. The word "rock" has deep Germanic roots, tracing back to the Old English "rocc" and similar words in other Germanic languages. It's a fundamental word for a fundamental part of our world, referring to the solid, unyielding material that forms the Earth's crust. It's been with us for a very long time, just like the rocks themselves!
Word relationships
- stone: Often used for smaller pieces of rock, or for rock as a material.
- boulder: A very large, detached piece of rock.
- soil: Loose, unconsolidated material on the Earth's surface.
- sand: Fine, granular material, a type of sediment.
Commonly confused with
- mineral: A rock is typically composed of one or more minerals, while a mineral is a single, distinct chemical substance.
Word family
- rocky (adjective): Full of or covered with rocks.
Collocations
- igneous rock
- sedimentary rock
- metamorphic rock
- bedrock
- solid rock
Idioms & expressions
- rock bottom
- rock the boat
- between a rock and a hard place
Example sentences
- "The trail was steep and rocky, requiring careful footing." Hiking description.
- "Granite is a common igneous rock formed from cooled magma." Geology lesson.
Memory hook
Just think of a big, solid 'ROCK' – it's a simple, foundational word. Solid ground
When not to use
Don't confuse with individual minerals.
Fun facts
- The three main types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.