block

¹block

noun, often attributive \ˈbläk\

Definition of BLOCK

1

: a compact usually solid piece of substantial material especially when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose: as

a : the piece of wood on which the neck of a person condemned to be beheaded is laid for execution

b : a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed

c : a hollow rectangular building unit usually of artificial material

d : a lightweight usually cubical and solid wooden or plastic building toy that is usually provided in sets

e : the casting that contains the cylinders of an internal combustion engine

f : starting block

2

a : obstacle

b : an obstruction of an opponent's play in sports; especially : a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent in football by use of the body

c (1) : interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ); especially : heart block (2) : local anesthesia (as by injection) produced by interruption of the flow of impulses along a nerve

d : interruption or cessation especially of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression — compare writer's block

3

slang : head 1 <threatened to knock his block off>

4

: a wooden or metal case enclosing one or more pulleys and having a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached

5

: a piece of material (as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed

6

a (1) : a usually rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings (2) : the distance along one of the sides of such a block

b (1) : a large building divided into separate functional units (2) : a line of row houses (3) : a distinctive part of a building or integrated group of buildings

7

: a platform from which property is sold at auction

8

a : a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit

b : bloc 2

— on the block

: for sale

Examples of BLOCK

1. a wall built out of concrete blocks
2. We took a walk around the block.
3. She lived on our block.
4. The store is three blocks down on the right.
5. Our hotel is a block from the ocean.

Origin of BLOCK

Middle English blok, from Middle French & Middle Dutch; Middle French bloc, from Middle Dutch blok; akin to Old High German bloh block

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BLOCK

Synonyms

array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, group, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite

Related Words

accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration; agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety; cycle, run, series, suit

Near Antonyms

entity, item, single, unit

Other Automotive Terms

articulated, choke, clutch, diesel, neutral, transmission

Rhymes with BLOCK

bloc, bock, brock, chock, clock, cock, croc, crock, doc, dock, floc, flock, frock, grok, hock, jock, knock, lakh, loch, lock, Locke, lough, moc, mock, nock, pock, roc, rock, schlock, shock, smock, sock, Spock, stock, wok

²block

verb

Definition of BLOCK

transitive verb

1

a : to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction

b archaic : blockade

c : to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction

d : to shut off from view

e : to interfere usually legitimately with (as an opponent) in various games or sports

f : to prevent normal functioning or action of

g : to restrict the exchange of (as currency or checks)

2

: to mark or indicate the outline or chief lines of <block out a design>

3

: to shape on, with, or as if with a block <block a hat>

4

: to secure, support, or provide with a block

5

: to work out or chart the movements of (as stage performers) —often used with out

6

: to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at the left or at both left and right

intransitive verb

: to block an opponent in sports

— block·er noun

Examples of BLOCK

1. There's an accident blocking the road.
2. The entrance was blocked by a gate.
3. Blood clots have completely blocked one of his arteries.
4. The protesters blocked the road with parked vehicles.
5. The ambulance was blocked by cars in the road.
6. An accident was blocking traffic.
7. Could you move to the left, please. You're blocking my light.
8. a shield that blocks the wind
9. Several senators are trying to block the passage of the bill.
10. His vote blocked the treaty.

First Known Use of BLOCK

1580

Related to BLOCK

Synonyms

fill, bung, dam, pack, plug, stop, stuff

Antonyms

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words

choke, clog, close (off), clot, congest, jam, obstruct, occlude; caulk, chink, seal; repack, restuff

Near Antonyms

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out), shovel

See Synonym Discussion at hinder

Block

biographical name \ˈbläk\

Definition of BLOCK

Herbert Lawrence 1909–2001 Her*block \ˈhər-ˌbläk\ Am. editorial cartoonist