Inglés

rocket

gb/ɹˈɑkət/ us/ɹˈɑkət/
B1 Inglés
~ 7700
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo B1 entity
1

vehicle or missile driven by rocket

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.

Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
glider (A flying craft that has no engine and does not use powered thrust.)
Colocaciones
launch a rocket |space rocket |rocket launch |rocket attack |rocket fuel |rocket scientist
Temas
science |technology |war |transportation |politics
Ejemplos
  • The company plans to launch a reusable rocket next year.
  • A rocket carrying several satellites exploded shortly after takeoff.
  • 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • The rocket went high into the sky.
  • They watched a rocket take off on TV.
  • The army fired a rocket at the target.
Verbo B2 action
2

rise or increase very fast

To go up very fast, especially in number, price, or level.

Patrón de uso: to rocket from [amount] to [amount]
Error frecuente:
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").
Sinónimos
soar (Common in business and news; suggests a big and often positive increase.) | skyrocket (Very close in meaning; slightly more informal and vivid.)
Antónimos
plummet (Describes a very fast and sudden fall in amount or level.)
Colocaciones
prices rocket |rocket in value |rocket from ... to ... |sales rocketed |costs have rocketed |rocket overnight
Temas
business |statistics |news |finance |core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
  • Housing prices have rocketed over the past decade.
  • The number of online orders rocketed during the holiday season.
  • Demand for electric cars rocketed after the new law was announced.
  • Our electricity bill rocketed when we started using air conditioning every day.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • Food prices rocketed last year.
  • The company's sales rocketed in June.
  • After the video went viral, his followers rocketed.
  • The temperature rocketed in the afternoon.
Sustantivo B1 entity
3

peppery salad leaf (arugula)

A small green salad plant with a strong taste; in American English it is called "arugula."

Error frecuente:
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."
Sinónimos
arugula (The usual word in American and Canadian English; same plant.)
Colocaciones
rocket salad |wild rocket |baby rocket |rocket leaves |rocket and parmesan
Temas
food |daily life |food_drink
Ejemplos
  • I ordered a steak with a side of rocket and tomatoes.
  • She sprinkled fresh rocket over the pizza before serving it.
  • The salad was made with rocket, pear, and blue cheese.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • We had pasta with rocket and cheese.
  • He put rocket and tomato in his sandwich.
  • She likes the strong taste of rocket in her salad.
Sustantivo B2 entity
4

firework that shoots upward

A kind of firework on a stick that flies up into the sky and then explodes with lights or noise.

Error frecuente:
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."
Sinónimos
firework (General word; does not specify the rocket shape or movement.)
Colocaciones
set off a rocket |fire a rocket |sky rocket |rocket display |Roman candle and rockets
Temas
celebrations |daily life |arts_entertainment |daily_life
Ejemplos
  • They lit a rocket and watched it burst into green and gold sparks.
  • A stray rocket hit the roof and started a small fire.
  • Children were warned not to hold rockets in their hands.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • He set off a rocket in the garden.
  • The rocket went up and made a loud noise.
  • We watched rockets in the sky on New Year's Eve.
Verbo B2 action
5

move extremely fast, like a rocket

To go very fast and suddenly in one direction, like a rocket in the sky.

Patrón de uso: to rocket [adverb] / in/into/through [place]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
crawl (Describes moving very slowly, the opposite of rocketing.)
Colocaciones
rocket past |rocket up |rocket into the air |rocket through the sky |rocket down the highway
Temas
movement |sports |core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
  • The car rocketed past us on the motorway.
  • The ball rocketed into the top corner of the net.
  • A flare rocketed into the night sky, lighting up the beach.
  • The elevator rocketed to the 50th floor in seconds.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • The train rocketed through the tunnel.
  • The plane rocketed into the sky.
  • The ball rocketed over the goalkeeper.
  • The roller coaster rocketed down the first hill.
Sustantivo technical C1 entity
6

rocket engine or motor

A kind of engine that pushes gas out very fast to make a vehicle or missile move, used in rockets and spacecraft.

Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
rocket engine (More explicit technical term; the same thing but clearer that it is an engine.)
Colocaciones
liquid-fuel rocket |solid-fuel rocket |rocket motor |rocket engine |strap-on rocket
Temas
science |technology |transportation
Ejemplos
  • Each booster contains a solid-fuel rocket that burns for about two minutes.
  • The new rocket is more efficient and produces less vibration.
  • Engineers tested the main rocket on the ground before attaching it to the spacecraft.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • The rocket on the back of the plane helps it go faster.
  • They are working on a new rocket for the spaceship.
  • This rocket uses a special kind of fuel.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
rocket
AFI
GB/ɹˈɑkət/
US/ɹˈɑkət/
Sílabas y acento
rock - et (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (rock)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
  • Base: rocket
  • Plural: rockets
Verb
  • Base: rocket
  • 3rd Person Singular: rockets
  • Present Participle: rocketing
  • Past: rocketed
Familia de palabras
Forms
rockets noun rocketing verb rocketed verb
Related words
rocketry noun
Advanced or less common
rocketeer noun
Expresiones

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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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.

Ejemplos
  • 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’.

Ejemplos
  • Fixing this computer isn’t rocket science.
  • Learning to cook is not rocket science.

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