# rocket

Pronunciation: say "ROK-it" US /ˈɹɑk.ɪt/, UK /ˈɹɒk.ɪt/

## Noun

1. A long craft propelled by a rocket engine, such as a missile or a spacecraft.
   - Simple: A tall vehicle pushed up by burning fuel, used to fly into space or as a weapon.
   - _The rocket separated from its booster stages high above the atmosphere._
   - _A rocket struck the building moments after the warning sirens sounded._
2. An engine that generates thrust by expelling hot gases at high speed, working much like the firework of the same name.
   - Simple: An engine that pushes a craft forward by shooting out hot gas at high speed.
   - _The spacecraft's main rocket ignited, expelling a column of superheated gas._
   - _Engineers tested the new rocket on a stand before fitting it to the vehicle._
3. A cylindrical firework that shoots high into the air through burning fuel and bursts into colored light; a skyrocket.
   - Simple: A tube packed with powder that shoots high into the sky and bursts into bright colors.
   - _The display ended with a single rocket that scattered silver stars across the sky._
   - _He fumbled with the fuse before the rocket shot up over the rooftops._
7. A Mediterranean plant of the genus Eruca (Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria) whose sharp, peppery leaves are eaten raw in salads; known in American English as arugula.
   - Simple: A plant with peppery green leaves eaten in salads. Americans call it arugula.
   - _The chef scattered a handful of rocket over the warm pizza just before serving._
   - _A simple salad of rocket, shaved parmesan, and lemon makes a quick starter._
8. Something that moves high or very fast through the air; especially, in sports, a hard, fast shot.
   - Simple: A ball or object that flies very fast, especially a hard shot in sports.
   - _The midfielder unleashed a rocket from thirty yards out._
   - _The pitcher's fastball was a pure rocket, popping the catcher's glove._
11. A severe reprimand; a sharp, angry telling-off. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: A strong, angry telling-off for doing something wrong.
   - _The sergeant gave the recruits a rocket for their sloppy turnout._
   - _She got a right rocket from her gaffer for clocking in late._
12. A woman regarded as strikingly physically attractive. *(dialectal, East, England, South)*
   - Simple: A very good-looking woman.
   - _The lads reckoned the new bartender was an absolute rocket._
   - _In that dress she looked a proper rocket._
13. A stupid, reckless, or crazy person. *(dialectal, Scotland)*
   - Simple: A silly or crazy person who does foolish things.
   - _He's a complete rocket who once tried to ride his bike down the stairs._
   - _Some rocket left the gate open and the dogs got out._
14. An ace from a deck of playing cards. *(slang)*
   - Simple: An ace card in a deck of playing cards.
   - _Holding pocket rockets, he raised before anyone else could act._
   - _Nobody believed he had been dealt pocket rockets twice in a row until he showed both aces._

## Verb

4. To rise, soar, or fly upward very rapidly; (of prices, numbers, etc.) to increase very quickly.
   - Simple: To go up very fast, like a rocket, or to increase very quickly.
   - _A column of black smoke rocketed above the warehouse roof within minutes of the blast._
   - _Flames rocket toward the ceiling when the door opens and air rushes in._
5. To accelerate swiftly and with great power.
   - Simple: To speed up quickly and with great force.
   - _The sports car rocketed down the empty highway._
   - _Powerful engines let the boat rocket across the open water._
6. To suddenly gain fame, popularity, or success.
   - Simple: To become famous or successful very quickly.
   - _Her debut novel rocketed up the bestseller lists within a week._
   - _Unknown bands sometimes rocket to stardom through a single viral clip._
9. To attack a target by firing rockets at it.
   - Simple: To attack a place or target by firing rockets at it.
   - _Insurgents rocketed the airbase repeatedly over several nights._
   - _Gunships rocket the convoy as it crosses the open plain._
10. To carry a payload or passenger aboard a rocket, especially up into space.
   - Simple: To send something up into space by carrying it inside a rocket.
   - _Engineers will rocket the new telescope into a high orbit next spring._
   - _The company rocketed cargo to the lunar surface for the first time._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A flowering plant (Consolida regalis, syn. Delphinium consolida), commonly called rocket larkspur, with tall spikes of spurred blue to violet blooms.
- (noun) A blunt head fitted to the end of a lance for jousting, designed to strike an opponent without piercing him.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–6, 8–14** — From Italian rocchetta, from Old Italian rocchetto, a diminutive of rocca (a distaff), literally meaning a bobbin. This traces back through Lombardic rocko (spinning wheel) to Proto-Germanic *rukkô, a distaff used in spinning thread, with cognates like Old High German rocco and Swedish rock.
**Meaning 7** — Latin eruca gave Italian ruca, whose diminutive ruchetta became French roquette, and English borrowed the French word. Arugula, rucola, eruca, and roquette are cognates.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/rocket (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).