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block
/bläk/
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noun
noun:
block; plural noun:
blocks
- 1.
a large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side.
"a block of marble"
Similar:
chunk
hunk
brick
slab
lump
piece
bar
cake
cube
wedge
mass
wad
slice
wodge
- a sturdy, flat-topped block used as a work surface, typically for chopping food.
"a chopping block"
- BRITISH
a set of sheets of paper glued along one edge, used for drawing or writing on.
"a sketching block"
Similar:
pad
notebook
tablet
sketchbook
scratch pad
jotter
- any of a set of solid cubes used as a child's toy.
- a starting block.
"the thrust a sprinter gets when coming out of the blocks"
- PRINTING
a piece of wood or metal engraved for printing on paper or fabric.
- the main body of an internal combustion engine, containing the pistons.
noun: cylinder block; plural noun: cylinder blocks; noun: engine block; plural noun: engine blocks
- a head-shaped mold used for shaping hats or wigs.
- 2.
BRITISH
a large single building subdivided into separate rooms, apartments, or offices.
"an apartment block"
Similar:
building
complex
structure
development
- a building or part of a complex used for a particular purpose.
"a cell block"
- NORTH AMERICAN
the area bounded by four streets in a town or suburb.
"ours was the ugliest house on the block"
- NORTH AMERICAN
the length of one side of a town block, typically as a measure of distance.
"he lives a few blocks away from the museum"
- 3.
a large quantity or allocation of things regarded as a unit.
"a block of shares"
Similar:
batch
group
cluster
set
section
quantity
series
- COMPUTING
a large piece of text processed as a unit.
- an unseparated unit of at least four postage stamps in at least two rows, generally a group of four.
- 4.
an obstacle to the normal progress or functioning of something.
"substantial demands for time off may constitute a block to career advancement"
Similar:
obstacle
obstruction
bar
barrier
impediment
hindrance
check
hurdle
stumbling block
difficulty
problem
snag
disadvantage
complication
drawback
hitch
handicap
deterrent
blockage
stoppage
stopping up
clot
occlusion
congestion
Opposite:
assistance
encouragement
- (in sports) a hindering or stopping of an opponent's movement or action.
"Marshall's shot drew a fine block from the goalkeeper"
- TENNIS
a shot in which the racket is held stationary rather than being swung back, especially a stop volley.
- a chock for stopping the motion of a wheel.
- 5.
a flat area of something, especially a solid area of color.
"cover the eyelid with a neutral block of color"
- 6.
a pulley or system of pulleys mounted in a case.
"a simple pulley block"
- 7.
INFORMAL
a person's head.
"“I'll knock your block off,” he said"
verb
verb:
block; 3rd person present:
blocks; past tense:
blocked; past participle:
blocked; gerund or present participle:
blocking
- 1.
make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible.
"block up the holes with sticky tape"
Similar:
clog (up)
stop up
choke
plug
obstruct
gum up
occlude
dam up
congest
jam
close
bung up
gunge up
close up
bar
shut off
barricade
seal
Opposite:
unblock
open
- put an obstacle in the way of (something proposed or attempted).
"he stood up, blocking her escape"
Similar:
hinder
hamper
obstruct
impede
inhibit
check
arrest
restrict
limit
deter
curb
interrupt
halt
stop
bar
prevent
thwart
balk
frustrate
foil
scotch
circumvent
stand in the way of
fetter
Opposite:
help
facilitate
- prevent access to or use of (email, a website, or a mobile phone).
"some companies use these IMEI numbers to block stolen phones"
- restrict the use or conversion of (currency or any other asset).
- (in sports) hinder or stop the movement or action of (an opponent, a ball, etc.).
"Knight did well to block Soloman's shot"
Similar:
parry
stop
defend against
fend off
stave off
turn aside
deflect
hold off
avert
repel
rebuff
repulse
hold/keep at bay
- BRIDGE
play in such a way that an opponent cannot establish (a long suit).
- MEDICINE
produce insensibility in (a part of the body) by injecting an anesthetic close to the nerves that supply it.
- 2.
impress text or a design on (a book cover).
- 3.
shape or reshape (a hat) using a wooden mold.
"nobody cleans and blocks old felt hats any more"
- 4.
design or plan the movements of actors on a stage or movie set.
Phrases
have been around the block
(of a person) have a lot of experience.
the new kid on the block
a newcomer to a particular place or sphere of activity, typically someone who has yet to prove themselves. "she was defeated by the new kid on the block in the final"
on the block
for sale at auction. "the original first manuscript for Ravel's
Bolero goes on the block today"
put one's head on the block
put one's standing or reputation at risk by proceeding with a particular course of action. "it's not in your nature to put your head on the block"
block in
prevent a vehicle from being driven away, typically by parking another vehicle too close. "he blocked in Vera's minivan"
block out
stop something such as light or noise from reaching somewhere. "you're blocking out my sun"
Origin
Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French
bloc (noun),
bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch
blok, of unknown ultimate origin.