rocky

comparative rockier · comparative more rocky · superlative rockiest · superlative most rocky

1. Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.

   a rocky mountain    a rocky shore

   2 more examples

   The pihoihoi live in the island's interior, and the torea on its rocky shore.

   2003, Margaret Rose Orbell, Carolyn Lagahetau, Birds of Aotearoa: a natural and cultural history

   When faced with a rockier or muddier section, look ahead for the easiest way across. This might involve hopping from one rock to another, or looking for flat sections or patches of vegetation that might be grippier.

   2021, Claire Maxted, “Quick Start”, in The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook: Get Fit, Confident and Skilled Up to Go from 5K to 50K, London: Bloomsbury Sport, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 25

2. Like a rock; rigid, solid.

   Marsh went on as his prisoner drank. "Because you're caught in the middle of my alternate plan, Ram-Jam, which ram-jams your ass between the rockiest rock and the hardest hard place you ever imagined.

   1988, Lloyd Pye Lloyd Pye, Mismatch, →ISBN, page 134

   Synonyms: flinty, rocklike, rock-like, stonelike

3. Of an animal or plantHaving a habitat around or on rocks.
4. archaicfigurativelyNot easily affected or impressed; stony; hard; obdurate; unfeeling.

   to have a rocky heart

5. slangHaving little or no money; stony broke.

   "Come, George, fork out. I'm sorry if you're rocky too but it's an absolute that it's no good going back without it." "'Rocky,' my God!" said George, echoing her shallow laugh. "Well—but how much do you need to square it?"

   1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

comparative rockier · comparative more rocky · superlative rockiest · superlative most rocky

1. Easily rocked; unstable.

   The table was rocky, so we put a book under one leg.

   Synonyms: tottering, wobbly

2. figurativelyEncountering many problems; difficult, troubled; also, in danger or distress.

   Their relationship had weathered some rocky times, but they loved each other.

   Synonyms: hard, tough, arduous, challenging, nasty, difficult, sticky, effortful

3. figurativelyOf a person: ill, or unsteady (for example, as a result of a shock).

   Synonyms: shaky, unnerved, weakened

comparative rockier · comparative more rocky · superlative rockiest · superlative most rocky

1. In the style of rock music.

   His new album is quite rocky.

   Synonyms: rockesque, rockish, rocklike//rock-like

plural Rockys

1. countableuncountableA diminutive of the male given names Robert, Ricky, Rocco, Roch, and Rock.

   Philadelphia Museum of Art:[…]This venue is also famous for its notable appearance in the 1976 movie 'Rocky', where Robert "Rocky" Balboabounds up the museum's steps as he prepares for his upcoming title match with Apollo Creed.

   2024, DK Travel, DK USA

   1 more example

   ‘I didn′t know your son′s name was Rocky,’ I quietly said as we started walking again. ‘It's really Richard. When he was a kid we called him Ricky, which somehow turned into Rocky. Some people call him Rocco. He gets called a lot of things.’

   1995, Patricia Cornwell, From Potter′s Field, Berkeley Books, published 2005, →ISBN, page 82

2. countablediminutiveuncountableDiminutive of Rock (“surname”).
3. countableuncountablenickame for a boxer, after Rocky Balboa, a fictional boxer in a series of films.
4. countableinformaluncountableThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, a motion picture.
5. A placename
   1. AustraliacountablediminutiveinformaluncountableDiminutive of Rockhampton; the regional city of Rockhampton; a city in Queensland, Australia.

      Rocky is the major city on the central Queensland coast and likes to call itself the beef capital of Australia.

      2005, Tim Uden, Australia: The Backpackers Ultimate Guide, 3rd edition, page 178

      2 more examples

      Rocky has a smattering of attractions but is best seen as the gateway to the coastal gems of Yeppoon and Great Keppel Island.

      2008, Alan Murphy, Justin Flynn, Olivia Pozzan, Paul Harding, Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Lonely Planet, page 234

      “I wonder when I′ll be asked to leave?” Kevin thought. “This is very different to how things went last time in Rocky (Rockhampton). It all seems very relaxed here. The staff seem to expect you to hang around. What for?”

      2009, Steele Fitchett, chapter I, in Being Real, page 15

   2. countableuncountableA town in Oklahoma, United States.