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1. Dictionary

   balk

   /bɔː(l)k/

   verb

   • 1. hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking: "he balked at such a drastic solution" Similar eschewresistrefuse tobe unwilling todraw the line atbe reluctant todraw back fromflinch fromshrink fromshy fromrecoil fromquail atdemur fromhesitate overscruple totake exception tonot like tohate tojib atscorndisdainOpposite accept
   • ▪ thwart or hinder (a plan or person): "he raised every objection he could to balk this plan" Similar impedeobstructthwarthinderpreventcheckstopcurbhaltbarblockforestallfrustratestallbafflefoildefeatbeatcounteracthead offOpposite assist
   • ▪ prevent a person or animal from having (something): "a tiger balked of its prey"
   • ▪ miss or refuse (a chance or invitation): "it's got to be done, so why balk it?"
   • ▪ (with reference to a horse) refuse or cause to refuse to go on: "he balked, both forefeet thrust stiffly in front of him"

   noun

   • 1. a roughly squared timber beam: "a balk of timber"
   • 2. the area on a billiard table between the balk line and the bottom cushion, within which in some circumstances a ball is protected from a direct stroke.
   • 3. an unlawful action made by a pitcher that may deceive a base runner.
   • 4. a ridge left unploughed between furrows.

   Word Origin late Old Englishbalc, from Old Norse bálkr ‘partition’. The original use was ‘unploughed ridge’, later ‘land left unploughed by mistake’, hence ‘blunder, omission’, giving rise to the verb use ‘miss (a chance)’. A late Middle English sense ‘obstacle’ gave rise to the verb senses ‘hesitate’ and ‘hinder’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   • K

     5

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishBALK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   BALK definition: 1. to be unwilling to do something or to allow something to happen: 2. in baseball, to stop in the…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › balkBalk Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › balk

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   noun. 1. a. baseball : an occurrence in which a pitcher stops suddenly or makes an illegal movement after starting to throw a pitch. The pitcher was charged with a balk. b. sports : failure of a competitor to complete a motion (such as a jump, vault, or dive) 2. billiards.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › balkBALK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › balk

   • Cached

   Balk definition: to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified (usually followed by at). See examples of BALK used in a sentence.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryBALK | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   BALK meaning: 1. to be unwilling to do something or to allow something to happen: 2. in baseball, to stop in the…. Learn more.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › balkBalk - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › balk

   If you balk at your mother's suggestion that you take on more responsibility, you're saying no to added chores. To balk means to refuse to go along with. A donkey balks when it refuses to move forward. This is a good picture for balk which is often used in conjunction with demands.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishBALK definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   balk in British English. or baulk (bɔːk , bɔːlk ) verb. 1. (intransitive; usually foll by at) to stop short, esp suddenly or unexpectedly; jib. the horse balked at the jump. 2. (intransitive; foll by at) to turn away abruptly; recoil. he balked at the idea of murder.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › balkBalk - definition of balk by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › balk

   • Cached

   n. 1. A hindrance, check, or defeat. 2. Sports An incomplete or misleading motion, especially an illegal move made by a baseball pitcher. 3. Games One of the spaces between the cushion and the balk line on a billiard table. 4. a. An unplowed strip of land. b. A ridge between furrows. 5. A wooden beam or rafter.