rocket
gb/ɹˈɑkət/ us/ɹˈɑkət/
B1
English
~ 7700
rakéta, megugrik, az egekbe szökik, rukkola, tűzijáték-rakéta, száguld, kilő, rakétahajtómű, rakétamotor
NOUN
B1
1
rakéta
A2
The company plans to launch a reusable rocket next year.
A vállalat jövőre egy újra felhasználható rakétát tervez felbocsátani.
A rocket carrying several satellites exploded shortly after takeoff.
Egy több műholdat szállító rakéta röviddel a felszállás után felrobbant.
Residents reported hearing the sound of a rocket hitting the outskirts of the city.
The children watched the small model rocket shoot into the sky.
Learner examples
The rocket went high into the sky.
A rakéta magasan felszállt az égbe.
They watched a rocket take off on TV.
A tévében nézték, ahogy egy rakéta felszáll.
The army fired a rocket at the target.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "rocket" and "spaceship". A "rocket" is the powered vehicle or projectile itself, while "spaceship" usually suggests a space vehicle that carries people and can be used like a ship. Learners may also overuse "rocket" for all space vehicles; satellites and space stations are not usually called rockets once they are in orbit.
Meaning
vehicle or missile driven by rocket
Collocations
launch a rocket
|space rocket
|rocket launch
|rocket attack
|rocket fuel
|rocket scientist
Synonyms
missile (Usually emphasizes a weapon designed to be fired at a target; may be guided or unguided.)
|
spacecraft (Refers only to vehicles used in space, not to weapons fired in the atmosphere.)
Antonyms
glider (A flying craft that has no engine and does not use powered thrust.)
Themes
science
|technology
|war
|transportation
|politics
Definition
A kind of vehicle or weapon that moves because gas from burning fuel is pushed out of its back, often used to go into space or to attack a target.
A vehicle or missile that is driven forward by the force from burning fuel in a rocket engine, especially one used for space travel or as a weapon.
VERB
B2
2
megugrik
B2
Usage pattern:
to rocket from [amount] to [amount]
Housing prices have rocketed over the past decade.
A lakásárak az elmúlt évtizedben megugrottak.
The number of online orders rocketed during the holiday season.
Az online rendelések száma megugrott az ünnepi időszakban.
Demand for electric cars rocketed after the new law was announced.
Our electricity bill rocketed when we started using air conditioning every day.
Learner examples
Food prices rocketed last year.
Tavaly megugrottak az élelmiszerárak.
The company's sales rocketed in June.
A cég eladásai júniusban megugrottak.
After the video went viral, his followers rocketed.
The temperature rocketed in the afternoon.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "rocket" as a transitive verb in this sense (e.g., *"The company rocketed the prices"*). In standard usage, the thing that goes up is the subject: "Prices rocketed" or "Sales rocketed". If you want a transitive verb, use "raise" or "increase" ("The company raised the prices").
Meaning
rise or increase very fast
Collocations
prices rocket
|rocket in value
|rocket from ... to ...
|sales rocketed
|costs have rocketed
|rocket overnight
Synonyms
soar (Common in business and news; suggests a big and often positive increase.)
|
skyrocket (Very close in meaning; slightly more informal and vivid.)
Antonyms
plummet (Describes a very fast and sudden fall in amount or level.)
Themes
business
|statistics
|news
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go up very fast, especially in number, price, or level.
To rise or increase extremely quickly and suddenly, especially in amount, price, or level.
NOUN
B1
3
rukkola
B1
I ordered a steak with a side of rocket and tomatoes.
Steaket rendeltem rukkolával és paradicsommal köretként.
She sprinkled fresh rocket over the pizza before serving it.
Tálalás előtt friss rukkolát szórt a pizzára.
The salad was made with rocket, pear, and blue cheese.
Learner examples
We had pasta with rocket and cheese.
Tésztát ettünk rukkolával és sajttal.
He put rocket and tomato in his sandwich.
Rukkolát és paradicsomot tett a szendvicsébe.
She likes the strong taste of rocket in her salad.
Common mistake:
Learners may think of space travel when they see "rocket salad" and not realize that "rocket" here means a type of salad leaf. North American learners may not recognize that British "rocket" is the same as American "arugula."
Meaning
peppery salad leaf (arugula)
Collocations
rocket salad
|wild rocket
|baby rocket
|rocket leaves
|rocket and parmesan
Synonyms
arugula (The usual word in American and Canadian English; same plant.)
Themes
food
|daily life
|food_drink
Definition
A small green salad plant with a strong taste; in American English it is called "arugula."
A leafy green plant with a strong, peppery taste, commonly used in salads; known as arugula in North American English.
NOUN
B2
4
They lit a rocket and watched it burst into green and gold sparks.
Meggyújtottak egy tűzijáték-rakétát, és nézték, ahogy zöld és arany szikrákra robban.
A stray rocket hit the roof and started a small fire.
Egy eltévedt tűzijáték-rakéta eltalálta a tetőt, és kisebb tüzet okozott.
Children were warned not to hold rockets in their hands.
Learner examples
He set off a rocket in the garden.
Elindított egy tűzijáték-rakétát a kertben.
The rocket went up and made a loud noise.
A tűzijáték-rakéta felszállt, és nagyot durrant.
We watched rockets in the sky on New Year's Eve.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "rocket" for all types of fireworks. In English, "rocket" is just one type; others include "fountain", "Roman candle", or "firecracker." When you are not sure of the type, use the general word "fireworks."
Meaning
firework that shoots upward
Collocations
set off a rocket
|fire a rocket
|sky rocket
|rocket display
|Roman candle and rockets
Synonyms
firework (General word; does not specify the rocket shape or movement.)
Themes
celebrations
|daily life
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Definition
A kind of firework on a stick that flies up into the sky and then explodes with lights or noise.
A type of firework that is fixed to a stick and shoots up into the sky before exploding with light or sound.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
to rocket [adverb] / in/into/through [place]
The car rocketed past us on the motorway.
Az autó elszáguldott mellettünk az autópályán.
The ball rocketed into the top corner of the net.
A labda a háló felső sarkába száguldott.
A flare rocketed into the night sky, lighting up the beach.
The elevator rocketed to the 50th floor in seconds.
Learner examples
The train rocketed through the tunnel.
A vonat átszáguldott az alagúton.
The plane rocketed into the sky.
A repülőgép szinte kilőtt az égbe.
The ball rocketed over the goalkeeper.
The roller coaster rocketed down the first hill.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this physical-movement sense with the "increase quickly" sense and use it with money or numbers where "rocketed" is possible but ambiguous. With physical movement, the subject is a moving object like a car, ball, or person; with increases, the subject is an amount, price, or level.
Meaning
move extremely fast, like a rocket
Collocations
rocket past
|rocket up
|rocket into the air
|rocket through the sky
|rocket down the highway
Synonyms
shoot (Common in this sense ("shoot past"); very similar idea of sudden fast movement.)
|
zoom (Informal; suggests fast movement with a loud or smooth sound.)
Antonyms
crawl (Describes moving very slowly, the opposite of rocketing.)
Themes
movement
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go very fast and suddenly in one direction, like a rocket in the sky.
To move extremely fast and suddenly in a particular direction, often upward or forward, like a rocket.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
rakétamotor
B2
Each booster contains a solid-fuel rocket that burns for about two minutes.
Minden gyorsítórakéta tartalmaz egy szilárd hajtóanyagú rakétahajtóművet, amely körülbelül két percig működik.
The new rocket is more efficient and produces less vibration.
Az új rakétahajtómű hatékonyabb, és kevesebb rezgést okoz.
Engineers tested the main rocket on the ground before attaching it to the spacecraft.
Learner examples
The rocket on the back of the plane helps it go faster.
A repülőgép hátulján lévő rakétahajtómű segít, hogy gyorsabban haladjon.
They are working on a new rocket for the spaceship.
Egy új rakétahajtóművön dolgoznak az űrhajóhoz.
This rocket uses a special kind of fuel.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not realize that "rocket" can mean just the engine, not the whole vehicle. In technical writing, context usually makes it clear whether "rocket" refers to an engine, a stage, or a complete vehicle.
Meaning
rocket engine or motor
Collocations
liquid-fuel rocket
|solid-fuel rocket
|rocket motor
|rocket engine
|strap-on rocket
Synonyms
rocket engine (More explicit technical term; the same thing but clearer that it is an engine.)
Themes
science
|technology
|transportation
Definition
A kind of engine that pushes gas out very fast to make a vehicle or missile move, used in rockets and spacecraft.
An engine that produces thrust by expelling exhaust gases at high speed, especially one used to power vehicles or missiles in space or the atmosphere.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rocket
IPA
GB/ɹˈɑkət/
US/ɹˈɑkət/
Syllables & stress
rock - et (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rock)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: rocket
- Plural: rockets
Verb
- Base: rocket
- 3rd Person Singular: rockets
- Present Participle: rocketing
- Past: rocketed
Word family
Forms
rockets
noun
rocketing
verb
rocketed
verb
Related words
rocketry
noun
Advanced or less common
rocketeer
noun
Expressions
give someone a rocket
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə ɹˈɑkət/
idiom
informal
strongly tell someone off
To speak to someone very angrily because they have done something wrong.
Examples
- The manager gave him a rocket for being late again.
- She’ll give you a rocket if she finds out you broke her laptop.
- The coach gave the whole team a rocket after their poor performance.
like a rocket
1/lˈaɪk ə ɹˈɑkət/
idiom
informal
very fast, very suddenly
Used to say that something moves or increases extremely fast and suddenly.
Examples
- The car took off like a rocket.
- Her career went up like a rocket after the show.
- The ball shot into the air like a rocket.
not rocket science
1/nˈɑt ɹˈɑkət sˈaɪəns/
idiom
informal
said when something is easy
Used to say that something is not very difficult to understand or do.
Examples
- Just follow the instructions; it's not rocket science.
- Cooking basic pasta is not rocket science.
- Managing your password safely is important, but it's not rocket science.
rocket ahead
1/ɹˈɑkət əhˈɛd/
phrasal verb
advance or progress much faster
To move, grow, or make progress much faster than other people or things.
Examples
- The company has rocketed ahead of its competitors in the last two years.
- Her career rocketed ahead after she won the award.
- Electric cars have rocketed ahead in popularity.
rocket fuel
1/ɹˈɑkət fjˈul/
idiom
informal
very strong drink or stimulant
A very strong drink or substance that gives you a lot of energy, usually said jokingly about coffee or alcohol.
Examples
- This coffee is rocket fuel; I can't sleep after one cup.
- Be careful with that homemade wine—it's rocket fuel.
- He drinks an energy drink that's basically rocket fuel before the gym.
rocket scientist
1/ɹˈɑkət sˈaɪəntɪst/
fixed phrase
expert in rocket science, or very clever person
Literally, a person who studies or designs rockets; informally, a very clever person, especially in science.
Examples
- You don't have to be a rocket scientist to use this software.
- He really is a rocket scientist who works for a space agency.
- She's no rocket scientist, but she knows how to run a business.
rocket ship
1/ɹˈɑkət ʃˈɪp/
fixed phrase
spacecraft shaped like a rocket
A spacecraft that looks like a rocket and can travel into space.
Examples
- As a child he dreamed of flying a rocket ship.
- The cartoon shows a rocket ship landing on the moon.
- They built a model rocket ship for the school project.
rocket to fame
1/ɹˈɑkət tə fˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
become famous very suddenly
To become famous very quickly, in a short time.
Examples
- She rocketed to fame after posting a single video online.
- The young actor rocketed to fame with his first film.
- The band rocketed to fame in the early 2000s.
rocket up
1/ɹˈɑkət ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
go up very quickly
To go up to a much higher level very quickly, especially in price, number, or rate.
Examples
- Rents have rocketed up in the city centre.
- Fuel costs rocketed up after the new tax was introduced.
- Unemployment figures rocketed up during the crisis.
rocket science
1/ɹˈɑkət sˈaɪəns/
idiom
science of rockets and spaceflight
Science and engineering that study how rockets and spacecraft work and fly.
Examples
- He has a PhD in rocket science.
- Rocket science requires a deep understanding of physics and engineering.
- The book explains rocket science for general readers.
rocket science
2/ɹˈɑkət sˈaɪəns/
idiom
informal
something very difficult to do or understand
Used to say something is not very hard, often in the negative form ‘It’s not rocket science’.
Examples
- Fixing this computer isn’t rocket science.
- Learning to cook is not rocket science.