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Origin and Etymology of rocket
Middle French roquette, from Old Italian rochetta, diminutive of ruca arugula, from Latin eruca
Definition of rocket
1 a
:a firework consisting of a case partly filled with a combustible composition fastened to a guiding stick and propelled through the air by the rearward discharge of the gases liberated by combustion
b
:a similar device used as an incendiary weapon or as a propelling unit (as for a lifesaving line)
2
:a jet engine that operates on the same principle as the firework rocket, consists essentially of a combustion chamber and an exhaust nozzle, carries either liquid or solid propellants which provide the fuel and oxygen needed for combustion and thus make the engine independent of the oxygen of the air, and is used especially for the propulsion of a missile (such as a bomb or shell) or a vehicle (such as an airplane)
3
:a rocket-propelled bomb, missile, projectile, or vehicle
Origin and Etymology of rocket
Italian rocchetta, literally, small distaff, from diminutive of rocca distaff, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rocko distaff
Definition of rocket
transitive verb
:to convey or propel by means of or as if by a rocket
intransitive verb
1
:to rise up swiftly, spectacularly, and with force
- rocketed to the top of the list
2
:to travel rapidly in or as if in a rocket
Examples of rocket in a Sentence
Sales rocketed from 1,000 units last week to 5,000 units this week.
The train rocketed through the tunnel.
The spacecraft rocketed into outer space.
Her novel rocketed to the top of the best-seller list.
Their album rocketed up the charts.
His role in the movie rocketed him to fame.
First Known Use of rocket
1837
rocket Synonyms
Synonyms
barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb [slang], bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, hurry, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoomAntonyms
crawl, creep, pokeRelated Words
beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle; stampede, streak, whiz (or whizz); gallop, jog, sprint; accelerate, quicken, step out; catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake; arrow, beelineNear Antonyms
dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up)ROCKET Defined for English Language Learners
rocket
verb
Definition of rocket for English Language Learners
-
: to increase quickly and suddenly
-
: to move or rise quickly
ROCKET Defined for Kids
Definition of rocket for Students
1
:a firework that is driven through the air by the gases produced by a burning substance
2
:a jet engine that is driven by gases produced by a burning substance
3
:a bomb, missile, or vehicle that is driven by gases produced by a burning substance
Learn More about rocket
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See words that rhyme with rocket Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rocket Spanish Central: Translation of rocket Nglish: Translation of rocket for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rocket for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rocket
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