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rocket1 definition

rocket (räkit)

noun

  1. any of various devices, typically cylindrical, containing liquid or solid propellants which when ignited produce hot gases or ions that escape through a rear vent and drive the container forward by the principle of reaction: simple rockets are used mainly as fireworks, signals, and projectile weapons, while more complex rockets are used to propel guided missiles, ballistic missiles, and spacecraft
  2. a spacecraft, missile, probe, etc. propelled by a rocket

Etymology: It rocchetta, spool or bobbin, rocket, orig. dim. of rocca, distaff < OHG roccho, distaff: from the resemblance in shape

intransitive verb

  1. to go like a rocket; dart ahead swiftly
  2. to travel in a rocket
  3. to soar; rise rapidly prices rocketed

transitive verb

  1. to convey in a rocket
  2. to attack by firing a rocket at
  3. to propel with or as with sudden force a hit song rocketing a singer to stardom
rocket2 definition

rocket (räkit)

noun

  1. any of various plants of the crucifer family, with white, yellow, pink, or purple flowers; esp., sea rocket (genus Cakile) found along seashores in Europe and North America
  2. arugula
  3. dame's violet

Etymology: Fr roquette < It rochetta, var. of ruchetta, dim. < ruca, rocket < L eruca, kind of colewort

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rocket Synonyms

rocket

n.

projectile, missile, retrorocket, spacecraft, guided missile, ballistic missile, flying missile; see also spacecraft.

Kinds of rockets include: liquid-fuel, solid-fuel, space, long-range, air-to-air (ATA), air-to-ground (ATG), ground-to-air (GTA), ground to ground (GTG), barrage rocket, high velocity aircraft rocket (HVAR), ship-to-shore (STS), ship-to-ship, multiple re-entry vehicle (MRV), multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV); space shuttle.


rocket

v.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rocket Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • them: Toe Tappers include two sets of whimsically themed booties rockets and butterflies that babies will be drawn to as they discover their feet.

Adjective modifier

  • v2: This was at the time Hitler was using V2 rockets.

Modifies a noun

  • launcher: Surprisingly the weapon we found least useful was the rocket launcher, acquired about half-way through the game.

Noun used with modifier

  • booty: Toe Tappers include two sets of whimsically themed booties rockets and butterflies that babies will be drawn to as they discover their feet.
rocket usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

rocket quotes

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleamingö Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the clouds of the fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming! Keynes And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through thenight that our flag was still there; O! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

-Key, Francis Scott

The final event to himself has been, that as he rose like a rocket, he fell like the stick.

-Paine,Thomas

rocket quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"rocket." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rocket>

APA Style

rocket. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rocket

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