block

1 of 2

noun

ˈbläk 

often attributive

1

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

a block of ice

blocks of cheese

: such as

a

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

put her neck on the block

b

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

a wooden hat block

c

: a hollow rectangular building unit usually of artificial material

a wall of concrete blocks

d

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

children playing with blocks

e

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

engine block

f

sports : starting block

the first swimmer off the blocks

a slow start out of the blocks

2

a

: obstacle

putting a block on any future development

b

sports : an obstruction of an opponent's play

especially, football : a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent by use of the body

a block by the right tackle

c medical

(1)

: interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ)

especially : heart block

The patient presented with a block.

(2)

: local anesthesia (as by injection) produced by interruption of the flow of impulses along a nerve

d

psychology : interruption or cessation especially of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression

a mental block

an emotional block

compare writer's block

3

slang : head sense 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 (such as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed

wooden blocks used for printing books

6

a(1)

: a usually rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings

She lived on our block.

(2)

: the distance along one of the sides of such a block

The store is two blocks down on the right.

lived a block away from the school

b(1)

: a large building divided into separate functional units

an apartment block

(2)

: a line of row houses

(3)

: a distinctive part of a building or integrated group of buildings

a block of classrooms

7

: a platform from which property is sold at auction

went on the block and sold for nearly three million dollars

8

a

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

bought a large block of shares

a half-hour block of music

a block of text

b

: bloc sense 2

popular among several voting blocks

block

2 of 2

verb

blocked; blocking; blocks

transitive verb

1

a

: to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction

The road was blocked by a rock slide.

b

archaic : blockade

… a city … besieged and blocked about …

—John Milton

c

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

The ambulance was blocked by traffic.

senators trying to block passage of the bill

d

: to shut off from view

The building blocks our view of the ocean.

e

: to interfere usually legitimately with (an opponent, an opponent's shot, etc.) in various games or sports

practice blocking our opponents

blocked the shot with her hand

f

: to prevent normal functioning or action of

block a nerve with novocaine

g

: to restrict the exchange of (currency, checks, etc.)

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 (see block entry 1 sense 1b)

block a hat

4

: to secure, support, or provide with a block (see block entry 1 sense 1)

blocking a plate for printing

block up the rear wheels

5

: to work out (the principal positions and movements) for the performers (as of a play)

also : to work out the players' positions and movements for (a scene or a play)

—often used with out

block out a scene before the actors arrive on set

6

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

7

golf : to hit (a ball or shot) inaccurately toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing : push

… you get excited, don't finish your backswing and block your next drive into the foliage.

—Thomas Boswell

intransitive verb

sports : to interfere usually legitimately with an opponent : to block an opponent

needs to practice blocking

blocker noun

Phrases

around the block

: through many experiences

—used especially to say that someone is no longer young or has become knowledgeable, capable, or mature because of past experience

… it seemed possible that to fall for a woman who had been around the block a few times might be to rob himself of much of the purely ornamental elements … of first love.

—Michael Chabon

on the block

: for sale

The business is now on the block.

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

• bung
• dam
• fill
• pack
• plug
• stop
• stuff

Choose the Right Synonym for block

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of.

hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

Example Sentences

Noun

a wall built out of concrete blocks

We took a walk around the block.

She lived on our block.

The store is three blocks down on the right.

Verb

There's an accident blocking the road.

The entrance was blocked by a gate.

Blood clots have completely blocked one of his arteries.

The protesters blocked the road with parked vehicles.

The ambulance was blocked by cars in the road.

An accident was blocking traffic.

Could you move to the left, please. You're blocking my light.

a shield that blocks the wind

Several senators are trying to block the passage of the bill.

His vote blocked the treaty.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Authorities said the shooting occurred about 7:45 p.m. in the 2700 block of Bruce Place SE, in Woodland Terrace. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023

Keshaun Middlebrooks, 22, died Wednesday at Huntsville Hospital from gunshot wounds in a shooting outside a home in the 200 block of Victory Lane at 1 a.m. There have been no arrests. —William Thornton | [e-mail], al, 10 Mar. 2023

Officers were called to the scene in the 3900 block of Liberty Heights Avenue and found a black container Friday. —Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2023

Lewisville police said three armed robbers confronted the owner of the Lewisville Pawn Shop in the 900 block of South Mill Street on the morning of Feb. 14, and one of them shot him. —Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 9 Mar. 2023

The first responders on the scene were Fullerton police officers who arrived at the gas station in the 900 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023

According to a dispatch report, a juvenile was shot in the foot or struck in the foot with a bullet fragment in the 7900 block of Ayers Road. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2023

Isha Moore was last seen on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. in the 4700 block of North 42nd Street. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2023

The incident occurred as three juveniles had just driven home from the store around 10:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Burnet Street. —Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Mar. 2023

Verb

But certain materials can block the electromagnetic signals emitted from chips, keeping your personal information safe. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023

Sometimes, crooks block the accounts of legitimate users. —David Balaban, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

And with a simple pill, mini antibodies could be delivered directly to the gut, which could help to block a number of pathogens, for example rotavirus, that enter the body through the digestive tract. —Christina Szalinski, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023

The elastic bands that block our view are a challenge. —IEEE Spectrum, 22 Feb. 2023

Fetterman had the most common kind of stroke, caused by clots that block a blood vessel to the brain. —Lindsey Tanner, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023

Annington has taken to court to try to block the sale arguing that the government has no right to make the move without their consent. —Jonathan Browning, Bloomberg.com, 13 Feb. 2023

Officials in numerous countries periodically block social media and internet access in attempts to limit the flow of information. —Anjana Susarla, The Conversation, 9 Feb. 2023

But according to a report by the AP, efforts to block federal funds from Planned Parenthood — which has been targeted for providing women access to abortions — have been underway in Tennessee as far back as 2015. —Jon Freeman, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing block

• been around the block
• block capitals
• big-block
• block and tackle
• block out
• block grant
• block diagram
• block copolymer
• block in
• building block
• block of flats
• butcher block
• chopping block
• heart block
• cock-block
• cinder block
• new kid on the block
• on the chopping block
• pillow block
• starting block
• snatch block
• throw a block
• swage block
• stumbling block
• writer's block
• randomized block
• block party
• block letter
• tower block
• chop block
• knock someone's head/block off
• block plane
• breeze-block
• sub-block
• chip off the old block
• on the block
• around the block

See More

• been around the block
• block capitals
• big-block
• block and tackle
• block out
• block grant
• block diagram
• block copolymer
• block in
• building block
• block of flats
• butcher block
• chopping block
• heart block
• cock-block
• cinder block
• new kid on the block
• on the chopping block
• pillow block
• starting block
• snatch block
• throw a block
• swage block
• stumbling block
• writer's block
• randomized block
• block party
• block letter
• tower block
• chop block
• knock someone's head/block off
• block plane
• breeze-block
• sub-block
• chip off the old block
• on the block
• around the block

See More

Kids Definition

block

1 of 2 noun

ˈbläk 

1

a

: a solid piece of material (as stone or wood) usually with one or more flat sides

building blocks

b

: a hollow rectangular piece of material (as of glass or concrete) used for building

cinder block

2

a

: a piece of wood on which condemned persons are beheaded

b

: a mold or support on which something is shaped or displayed

c

: the molded part that contains the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine

3

a

: obstacle

b

: the act of slowing down or stopping an opponent's play in sports

c

: interruption of normal function of bodily processes

a heart block

also : interruption especially of train of thought

a mental block

4

: a wooden or metal case for one or more pulleys

5

: a number of things forming a group or unit

a block of seats

6

: a large building divided into separate units

7

a

: a usually rectangular space enclosed by streets

b

: the length of the side of such a block

three blocks south

8

: a stand for something to be sold at auction

9

: a hand-carved piece of material from which copies are to be printed

block

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to stop up or close off : obstruct

b

: to slow down or stop the progress of

especially : to interfere with an opponent (as in football)

c

: to shut off from view

block the sun

d

: to prevent normal functioning or action of

block a nerve with an anesthetic

2

: to mark the main lines of

block out a sketch

3

: to shape on, with, or as if with a block

4

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

5

: to secure, support, or provide with a block

blocker noun

Medical Definition

block

1 of 2 noun

ˈbläk 

often attributive

1

: interruption of normal physiological function of a tissue or organ

respiratory block due to carbon monoxide

especially : heart block

2

a

: block anesthesia

b

: nerve block sense 1

3

: interruption of a train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression

block

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to prevent normal functioning of (a bodily element)

block a nerve with novocaine

2

: to obstruct the effect of

a carboxyl group blocked by esterification

intransitive verb

: to experience or exhibit psychological blocking or blockage

blocker

-ər 

noun

Biographical Definition

Block

biographical name

ˈbläk 

Herbert Lawrence 1909–2001 Herblock ˈhər-ˌbläk  American editorial cartoonist