BLOCK

blocking, block

(noun) the act of obstructing or deflecting someone’s movements

block

(noun) a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides); “the pyramids were built with large stone blocks”

block

(noun) housing in a large building that is divided into separate units; “there is a block of classrooms in the west wing”

blockage, block, closure, occlusion, stop, stoppage

(noun) an obstruction in a pipe or tube; “we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe”

pulley, pulley-block, pulley block, block

(noun) a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope

block, mental block

(noun) an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension; “I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block”

block

(noun) a number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit; “he reserved a large block of seats”; “he held a large block of the company’s stock”

block, city block

(noun) a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings; “he lives in the next block”

block

(noun) (computer science) a sector or group of sectors that function as the smallest data unit permitted; “since blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms ‘block’ and ‘sector’ are sometimes used interchangeably”

block, cube

(noun) a three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides

freeze, block, immobilize, immobilise

(verb) prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); “Blocked funds”; “Freeze the assets of this hostile government”

block

(verb) shape into a block or blocks; “block the graphs so one can see the results clearly”

block

(verb) shape by using a block; “Block a hat”; “block a garment”

forget, block, blank out, draw a blank

(verb) be unable to remember; “I’m drawing a blank”; “You are blocking the name of your first wife!”

jam, block

(verb) interfere with or prevent the reception of signals; “Jam the Voice of America”; “block the signals emitted by this station”

parry, block, deflect

(verb) impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); “block an attack”

block

(verb) support, secure, or raise with a block; “block a plate for printing”; “block the wheels of a car”

obstruct, obturate, impede, occlude, jam, block, close up

(verb) block passage through; “obstruct the path”

barricade, block, blockade, stop, block off, block up, bar

(verb) render unsuitable for passage; “block the way”; “barricade the streets”; “stop the busy road”

stuff, lug, choke up, block

(verb) obstruct; “My nose is all stuffed”; “Her arteries are blocked”

block

(verb) stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block; “block the book cover”

obstruct, block

(verb) shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight; “The thick curtain blocked the action on the stage”; “The trees obstruct my view of the mountains”

block

(verb) interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia; “block a nerve”; “block a muscle”

block

(verb) run on a block system; “block trains”

obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass

(verb) hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; “His brother blocked him at every turn”

stop, halt, block, kibosh

(verb) stop from happening or developing; “Block his election”; “Halt the process”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

block (plural blocks)

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

A chopping block; cuboid base for cutting or beheading.

A group of urban lots of property, several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets.

A residential building consisting of flats.

The distance from one street to another in a city that is built (approximately) to a grid pattern.

Interference or obstruction of cognitive processes.

(slang) The human head.

A wig block: a simplified head model upon which wigs are worn.

A mould on which hats, bonnets, etc, are shaped.

A set of sheets (of paper) joined together at one end.

(computing) A logical data storage unit containing one or more physical sectors (see cluster).

(programming) A region of code in a program that acts as a single unit, such as a function or loop.

(cryptography) A fixed-length group of bits making up part of a message.

(nautical) A case with one or more sheaves/pulleys, used with ropes to increase or redirect force, for example, as part of the rigging of a sailing ship.

(chemistry) A portion of a macromolecule, comprising many units, that has at least one feature not present in adjacent portions.

Something that prevents something from passing.

Synonyms: barrier, blockage, obstruction

(sports) An action to interfere with the movement of an opposing player or of the object of play (ball, puck).

(cricket) A shot played by holding the bat vertically in the path of the ball, so that it loses momentum and drops to the ground.

(volleyball) A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter’s court.

(philately) A joined group of four (or in some cases nine) postage stamps, forming a roughly square shape.

A section of split logs used as fuel.

(UK) Solitary confinement.

A cellblock.

(falconry) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.

(printing, dated) A piece of hard wood on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted.

(obsolete) A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt.

(rail) A section of a railroad where the block system is used.

(cricket) The position of a player or bat when guarding the wicket.

(cricket) A blockhole.

(cricket) The popping crease.

(viticulture) A discrete group of vines in a vineyard, often distinguished from others by variety, clone, canopy training method, irrigation infrastructure, or some combination thereof.

Synonyms

• See also head

• city block

Synonyms

• (volleyball): stuff, roof, wall

Verb

block (third-person singular simple present blocks, present participle blocking, simple past and past participle blocked)

(transitive) To fill (something) so that it is not possible to pass.

(transitive) To prevent (something or someone) from passing.

(transitive) To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something).

(transitive, sports) To impede an opponent.

(transitive, theater) To specify the positions and movements of the actors.

(transitive, cricket) To hit with a block.

(intransitive, cricket) To play a block shot.

(transitive) To disable communication via telephone, instant messaging, etc, with an undesirable someone.

(computing, intransitive) To wait.

(transitive) To stretch or mould (a knitted item, a hat, etc.) into the desired shape.

(transitive) To shape or sketch out roughly.

Etymology 2

Noun

block

Misspelling of bloc.

Proper noun

Block

A surname.

Source: Wiktionary

Block, n. Etym: [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan. blok, Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG. bloch, biloh; bi by + the same root as that of E. lock. Cf. Block, v. t., Blockade, and see Lock.]

1. A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane, faces; as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which to mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc. Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke, And Christmas blocks are burning. Wither. All her labor was but as a block Left in the quarry. Tennyson.

2. The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded. Noble heads which have been brought to the block. E. Everett.

3. The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. Hence: The pattern on shape of a hat. He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. Shak.

4. A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to form one building; a row of houses or shops.

5. A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not. The new city was laid out in rectangular blocks, each block containing thirty building lots. Such an average block, comprising 282 houses and covering nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford Street. Lond. Quart. Rev.

6. A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the rigging of ships, and in tackles.

7. (Falconry)

Definition: The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.

8. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way.

9. A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.

10. (Print.)

Definition: A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high.

11. A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. [Obs.] What a block art thou ! Shak.

12. A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See Block system, below. A block of shares (Stock Exchange), a large number of shares in a stock company, sold in a lump. Bartlett.

– Block printing. (a) A mode of printing (common in China and Japan) from engraved boards by means of a sheet of paper laid on the linked surface and rubbed with a brush. S. W. Williams. (b) A method of printing cotton cloth and paper hangings with colors, by pressing them upon an engraved surface coated with coloring matter.

– Block system on railways, a system by which the track is divided into sections of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of electric signals that no train enters a section or block before the preceding train has left it.

Block, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blocking.] Etym: [Cf. F. bloquer, fr. bloc block. See Block, n.]

1. To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to prevent passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the way; -- used both of persons and things; -- often followed by up; as, to block up a road or harbor. With moles . . . would block the port. Rowe. A city . . . besieged and blocked about. Milton.

2. To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two boards at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood glued to each.

3. To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat. To block out, to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out roughly; to lay out; as, to block out a plan.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

BLOCK

Etymology 1

Noun

Synonyms

Synonyms

Verb

Etymology 2

Noun

Proper noun

Recent Word Finds

Word of the Day

CONFIDENCE

Do you know this game?