From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
rocket
n 1: any vehicle propelled by a rocket engine
2: a jet engine containing its own propellant and driven by
reaction propulsion [syn: rocket engine]
3: erect European annual often grown as a salad crop to be
harvested when young and tender [syn: roquette, {garden
rocket}, rocket salad, arugula, Eruca sativa, {Eruca
vesicaria sativa}]
4: propels bright light high in the sky, or used to propel a
lifesaving line or harpoon [syn: skyrocket]
5: sends a firework display high into the sky [syn:
skyrocket]
v 1: shoot up abruptly, like a rocket; "prices skyrocketed" [syn:
skyrocket]
2: propel with a rocket
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Rocket \Rock"et\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rocketed; p. pr. & vb.
n. Rocketing.] (Sporting)
To rise straight up; said of birds; usually in the present
participle or as an adjective. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
An old cock pheasant came rocketing over me. --H. R.
Haggard.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Rocket \Rock"et\, n. [It. rocchetta, fr. rocca a distaff, of
German origin. Named from the resemblance in shape to a
distaff. See Rock a distaff.]
1. An artificial firework consisting of a cylindrical case of
paper or metal filled with a composition of combustible
ingredients, as niter, charcoal, and sulphur, and fastened
to a guiding stick. The rocket is projected through the
air by the force arising from the expansion of the gases
liberated by combustion of the composition. Rockets are
used as projectiles for various purposes, for signals, and
also for pyrotechnic display.
[1913 Webster]
2. A blunt lance head used in the joust.
[1913 Webster]
3. any flying device propelled by the reactive force of hot
gases expelled in the direction opposite its motion. The
fuel used to generate the expelled gases in rockets may be
solid or liquid; rockets propelled by liquid fuels
typically have a combustible fuel (such as hydrogen or
kerosene) which is combined inside the rocket engine with
an oxidizer, such as liquid oxygen. Single liquid fuels
(called monopropellants) are also known. Since rocket
engines do not depend on a surrounding fluid medium to
generate their thrust, as do airplanes with propellers or
jet engines, they may be used for propulsion in the vacuum
of space.
[PJC]
Congreve rocket, a powerful form of rocket for use in war,
invented by Sir William Congreve. It may be used either in
the field or for bombardment; in the former case, it is
armed with shells or case shot; in the latter, with a
combustible material inclosed in a metallic case, which is
inextinguishable when kindled, and scatters its fire on
every side.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Rocket \Rock"et\, n. [F. roquette (cf. Sp. ruqueta, It
ruchetta), fr. L. eruca.] (Bot.)
(a) A cruciferous plant (Eruca sativa) sometimes eaten in
Europe as a salad.
(b) Damewort.
(c) Rocket larkspur. See below.
[1913 Webster]
Dyer's Rocket. (Bot.) See Dyer's broom, under Broom.
Rocket larkspur (Bot.), an annual plant with showy flowers
in long racemes (Delphinium Ajacis).
Sea rocket (Bot.), either of two fleshy cruciferous plants
(Cakile maritima and Cakile Americana) found on the
seashore of Europe and America.
Yellow rocket (Bot.), a common cruciferous weed with yellow
flowers (Barbarea vulgaris).
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Damewort \Dame"wort`\, n. (Bot.)
A cruciferrous plant (Hesperis matronalis), remarkable for
its fragrance, especially toward the close of the day; --
called also rocket and dame's violet. --Loudon.
[1913 Webster]