rocket

1 of 3

noun (1)

rock·​et ˈrä-kət How to pronounce rocket (audio)
rä-ˈket
: any of several plants of the mustard family: such as
a

rocket

2 of 3

noun (2)

rock·​et ˈrä-kət How to pronounce rocket (audio)
often attributive
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

rocket

3 of 3

verb

rocketed; rocketing; rockets

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

Verb 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The rocket was meant to deploy another batch of Starlink internet satellites to orbit Monday night. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 Completing most of the short jaunt was a reassuring validation that the rocket’s design appears to be sound. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 SpaceX SpaceX is once again set to launch its massive Starship rocket — the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed — on a third test flight. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 By Marina Koren SpaceX has once again launched the most powerful rocket in history into the sky, and this time, the mission seems to have passed most of its key milestones. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 Elon Musk’s SpaceX is aiming for a third attempt at a successful launch of its Starship rocket Thursday after two previous attempts crashed and burned. William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 SpaceX’s massive rocket is the world’s most powerful rocket, a towering two-stage vehicle that NASA intends to use to land astronauts on the moon. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Nonetheless, Israel has still been able to proceed and make major gains — seizing control of much of the Strip, decimating Hamas, and limiting its ability to launch rockets into Israel. The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 While Stomp Rocket offers a single rocket launcher, the Dueling Rockets version offers the ability for two kids to play simultaneously. Erica Puisis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
The two had folded themselves into the back seat of a pedicab and were rocketing uptown. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2024 Nvidia designs the chips that make artificial intelligence work, and because A.I. is being hailed as the most important technological development since the internet, Nvidia shares have been rocketing since last year. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Yet after going one-over par through the opening six holes of his first round at ‘the fifth major’ on Thursday, the world No.44 followed up an eagle with an ace at the Stadium Course’s iconic par-three 17th hole to rocket to three-under in the blink of an eye. Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 But before her books were rocketing onto bestseller lists or making the rounds on BookTok, St. Clair’s writing journey began in the world of self-publishing. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 That’s enough oomph to rocket the car from zero to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds (0.2 seconds faster than before) and to a top speed of 202 mph (12 mph faster than before). Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Rivian shares rocketed up over 14% after the company unveiled the R2, R3 and R3X. William Gavin, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 This version can rocket from zero to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, though its 134 mph top speed does leave something to be desired. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Steve Lawrence, a king among easy-listening crooners who rocketed to fame in the ’50s and ’60s as half of the duo Steve and Eydie, died Thursday at age 88. Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rocket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Middle French roquete, borrowed from Italian (15th-century) ruchetta, rochetta, from ruca "arugula" (going back to Latin ērūca "arugula, caterpillar," of uncertain origin) + -etta, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -itta

Note: The sense "caterpillar" of Latin ērūca has been taken as the original one, with the plant so called from the resemblance of its hairy stems to a caterpillar. If this is the case, ērūca could be a derivative of *ēr "hedgehog" (see urchin); the suffix may be the same as in festūca "stalk, straw," lactūca "lettuce," and verrūca "wart."

Noun (2)

Italian rocchetta, literally, small distaff, from diminutive of rocca distaff, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rocko distaff

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of rocket was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near rocket

Cite this Entry

“Rocket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rocket. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rocket

1 of 2 noun
rock·​et ˈräk-ət How to pronounce rocket (audio)
1
: a firework that is driven through the air by the gases produced by a burning substance
2
: a jet engine that operates like a firework rocket but carries its own oxygen for burning the fuel and is therefore able to run without the oxygen of the air
3
: an object (as a missile) that is driven by a rocket

rocket

2 of 2 verb
1
: to transport by a rocket
rocket a satellite into orbit
2
: to rise swiftly
a singer who rocketed to stardom
3
: to travel rapidly in or as if in a rocket
Etymology

Noun

from Italian rocchetta, literally "a small stick or rod on which wool is held for spinning," from rocca "distaff"; probably so called because of its shape

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