rocks
n. C / Un. the hard, solid material that makes up the ground and mountains. You find these in nature in many different sizes, from tiny stones to huge cliffs.
n. solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets. Often used to describe fragments of such material that have been broken off.
The children collected smooth rocks from the beach.
Geologists study different types of rocks to understand how the earth's crust has changed over millions of years.
The climbers struggled to find secure handholds among the loose rocks and crumbling shale that covered the steep mountain face.
Uncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to individual pieces or geological formations.
- 01
hit the rocks
To reach a low point in one's pursuits.
- 02
kick rocks
To leave or run away; to skedaddle; to waste one's own time (with some other meaningless task) rather than waste the speaker's time with something equally irritating or pointless. (often used imperatively and dismissively).
- 03
painting rocks
pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.