blocking, block
(noun) the act of obstructing or deflecting someoneâs movements
block
(noun) a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides); âthe pyramids were built with large stone blocksâ
block
(noun) housing in a large building that is divided into separate units; âthere is a block of classrooms in the west wingâ
blockage, block, closure, occlusion, stop, stoppage
(noun) an obstruction in a pipe or tube; âwe had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipeâ
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; âI knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary blockâ
block
(noun) a number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit; âhe reserved a large block of seatsâ; âhe held a large block of the companyâs stockâ
block, city block
(noun) a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings; âhe lives in the next blockâ
block
(noun) (computer science) a sector or group of sectors that function as the smallest data unit permitted; âsince blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms âblockâ and âsectorâ are sometimes used interchangeablyâ
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); âBlocked fundsâ; âFreeze the assets of this hostile governmentâ
block
(verb) shape into a block or blocks; âblock the graphs so one can see the results clearlyâ
block
(verb) shape by using a block; âBlock a hatâ; âblock a garmentâ
forget, block, blank out, draw a blank
(verb) be unable to remember; âIâm drawing a blankâ; âYou are blocking the name of your first wife!â
jam, block
(verb) interfere with or prevent the reception of signals; âJam the Voice of Americaâ; âblock the signals emitted by this stationâ
parry, block, deflect
(verb) impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); âblock an attackâ
block
(verb) support, secure, or raise with a block; âblock a plate for printingâ; âblock the wheels of a carâ
obstruct, obturate, impede, occlude, jam, block, close up
(verb) block passage through; âobstruct the pathâ
barricade, block, blockade, stop, block off, block up, bar
(verb) render unsuitable for passage; âblock the wayâ; âbarricade the streetsâ; âstop the busy roadâ
stuff, lug, choke up, block
(verb) obstruct; âMy nose is all stuffedâ; âHer arteries are blockedâ
block
(verb) stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block; âblock the book coverâ
obstruct, block
(verb) shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight; âThe thick curtain blocked the action on the stageâ; âThe trees obstruct my view of the mountainsâ
block
(verb) interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia; âblock a nerveâ; âblock a muscleâ
block
(verb) run on a block system; âblock trainsâ
obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass
(verb) hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; âHis brother blocked him at every turnâ
stop, halt, block, kibosh
(verb) stop from happening or developing; âBlock his electionâ; âHalt the processâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
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 hitterâs 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.
• See also head
• city block
• (volleyball): stuff, roof, wall
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.
block
Misspelling of bloc.
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
22 November 2024
(noun) (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
The word âcoffeeâ entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch âkoffie,â borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish âkahve,â borrowed in turn from the Arabic âqahwah.â The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
