Main Entry: ¹block·ade

Pronunciation: \blä-ˈkād\

Function: noun

1 a : interruption of normal physiological function (as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ b : inhibition of a physiologically active substance (as a hormone)
2 : the process of reducing the phagocytic capabilities of the mononuclear phagocyte system by loading it with harmless material (as India ink or lampblack) which engages its cells in phagocytosis and prevents them from reacting to new antigenic material—compare blocking antibody