rocket

noun

1. A projectile.
2. A projectile.
3. A projectile.

   “As Elon Musk returns his focus to his businesses, one of his most important companies just had another setback: A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded in an immense fireball Wednesday during a routine ground test.”

   “Asked by Gallup in 1949 whether “men in rockets will be able to reach the moon” within the next 50 years, just 15% said yes. About five years later, confidence in the men in rockets’ prospects had more than doubled to 38%. […] In a Gallup poll conducted near the start of 1955, just 9% said they’d like to go along on the first rocket ship to the moon if asked, and two years later, just 5% said they’d volunteer to be the first one up in a spacecraft.”

4. A projectile.
5. (figuratively)Figurative uses.

   “Fernandinho launched a rocket that flew just over. Gundogan's shot hit off Sviatchenko and Gordon and went out. City pressed and pressed.”

6. (UK, figuratively, slang)Figurative uses.

   “The Burmese nurse who'd gone with her was crying, for which she'd no doubt get a rocket from matron.”

   “While Solborg and Lemaigre were dreaming of revolts, Donovan had learned of Solborg’s insubordination and meddling. He sent him a “rocket” ordering him out of North Africa and back to Lisbon at once.”

7. (figuratively, slang)Figurative uses.
8. (Scotland, figuratively, slang)Figurative uses.

   “Why were the Luddites named efter Ned Ludd? A wee rocket. A wee fucken fairy bampot. A pure hooligan, smashing stuff up. A ned. Ned Ludd.”

9. (East, England, South, figuratively, slang)Figurative uses.
10. (uncountable)A leaf vegetable of species Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria.
11. (countable)Any plant of the genus Eruca.

    “And avoid certain aphrodisiac foods, such as onions and rockets.”

12. (countable, uncountable)Rocket larkspur (Consolida regalis, syn. Delphinium consolida).

verb

1. (ambitransitive)To accelerate swiftly and powerfully.

   “With Free Guy, Reynolds gets just a little more in touch with his Carrey side via nothing less than his own version of The Truman Show, shorn of its daydream dread and rocketed into the age of Fortnite.”

2. To fly vertically.
3. To rise or soar rapidly.

   “The project was attractive because of the ability to maximise the use of existing and decommissioned railways, minimise land take, and decrease the amount of disruption during the project. With London land prices rocketing, there was also a significant financial incentive.”

   “The cost of food in the UK had rocketed by 25% since 2019, the researchers calculated, but if the post-Brexit trade restrictions were not in place then this increase would be only 17% – nearly a third lower.”

4. To experience sudden fame, popularity, or success.

   “After spending years in obscurity, the band finally rocketed last week.”

5. To carry something in a rocket.
6. To attack something with rockets.