Definition of Rock and roll

1. Noun. A genre of popular music originating in the 1950s; a blend of black rhythm-and-blues with white country-and-western. "Rock is a generic term for the range of styles that evolved out of rock'n'roll."


Definition of Rock and roll

1. Noun. A style of popular music characterized by a basic drum-beat, generally 4/4 riffs, based on (usually electric) guitar, drums, and vocals (generally with bass guitar). Generally used to refer to the 1950’s rock, and rock of its style, quite close to swing. ¹

2. Noun. Style of vigorous dancing associated with this 1950’s music. ¹

3. Noun. An intangible feeling, philosophy, belief or allegiance relating to rock music (generally from the 1970s–1980s), and heavy metal bearing certain elements of this music, pertaining to unbridled enthusiasm, cynical regard for certain Christian and authoritarian bodies, and attitudes befitting some degree of youthful debauchery. This meaning is sometimes used as an exclamation, in describing traits of certain people, and so on. ¹

4. Noun. (UK) (rhyming slang) dole. ¹

5. Verb. To play rock and roll music. ¹

6. Verb. (slang euphemistic) To have sex. ¹

7. Verb. To start, commence, begin, get moving. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Rock And Roll

rock'n'roll
rock-and-roll
rock-band
rock-bottom
rock-dove
rock-dumb
rock-hard
rock-jumper
rock-jumpers
rock-ribbed
rock-steady
rock & roll
rock 'n' roll
rock 'n' roll musician
rock along
rock band
rock bands
rock barnacle
rock beauty
rock bit
rock bottom
rock brake
rock bun
rock buns
rock cake
rock candy
rock climber
rock climbing

Literary usage of Rock and roll

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Why Can't I See the Angels?: Children's Questions to a Sufi Saint by M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (2002)
"rock and roll is absolutely useless. It just ends up in hell. ... BAWA MUHAIYADDEEN: Do not think about rock and roll. Just learn wisdom. ..."

2. How to Do Science Experiments with Children by Joan Bentley (2003)
"Label the top of the graph "Can You Rock and Roll?" 2. Distribute an investigation sheet and a coffee can icon to each student. 3. ..."

3. Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways by Jamie Jensen (2006)
"The primal force behind the area's rebirth has been the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (daily; $21; 888/764-ROCK), ..."

4. Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality and edited by Mary Frances Berry (2000)
"I came here 6 years ago to pursue my dream as a rock and roll entertainer. And I have found that 40 years of rock and roll industry since the beginning of ..."

5. The Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee concordance of the Old Testament[based by William De Burgh (1860)
"... and dwell IH the rock, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, and roll thee down from Me roc*«, she set it upon the top of a roc*; ..."

6. Youth & Drugs: Society's Mixed Messages edited by Hank Resnik (1994)
"But it was also partly because :hurches and newspapers denounced rock and roll that it became understood 3y a good part of its audience as an act of ..."

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