rock·et1
[Italian rocchetta diminutive of rocca, spindle, distaff, of Germanic origin.]
noun
- A rocket engine.
- A vehicle or device propelled by one or more rocket engines, especially such a vehicle designed to travel through space.
- A projectile weapon carrying a warhead that is powered and propelled by rockets.
- A projectile firework having a cylindrical shape and a fuse that is lit from the rear.
verb: -et·ed, -et·ing, -ets.
intransitive verb
- To move swiftly and powerfully, as a rocket
- To fly swiftly straight up, as a game bird frightened from cover.
- To soar or rise rapidly: The book rocketed to the top of the bestseller list.
transitive verb
- To carry by means of a rocket.
- To assault with rockets.
rock·et
2 (rŏḱĭt)
[Middle English rokette, from Old French roquette, from Italian rochetta, variant of ruchetta diminutive of ruca, a kind of cabbage, from Latin ērūca.]
noun
- See arugula
- Any of several plants of the mustard family, especially the dame's rocket and the sea rocket.
a·ru·gu·la
(ə-rōṓgə-lə)
[Probably Italian dialectal, from Latin ērūca, cabbage.]
noun
- A Mediterranean plant (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) having flowers with purple-veined, yellowish-white petals and pungent, edible leaves. Also called rocket2, rocket salad, roquette
