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   block

   /blɒk/

   noun

   • 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 chunkhunkbrickslablumppiecebarcakecubewedgemasswadsliceinformal:wodge
   • ▪ a sturdy flat-topped piece of wood used as a work surface: "a chopping block"
   • ▪ a packaged rectangular portion of butter, ice cream, chocolate, etc.: "a family block of ice cream" Similar chunkhunkbrickslablumppiecebarcakecubewedgemasswadsliceinformal:wodge
   • ▪ a set of sheets of paper glued along one edge, used for drawing or writing on: British "a sketching block" Similar padnotebooktabletsketchbookscratch padjotter
   • ▪ a starting block: "Jackson jetted out of his blocks"
   • ▪ a piece of wood or metal engraved for printing on paper or fabric.
   • ▪ a large metal moulding containing the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.
   • ▪ a head-shaped mould for shaping hats or wigs.
   • 2. a large single building subdivided into separate rooms, flats, or offices: British "a block of flats" Similar buildingcomplexstructuredevelopment
   • ▪ a building or part of a complex used for a particular purpose: "a shower block" Similar buildingcomplexstructuredevelopment
   • ▪ a group of buildings bounded by four streets: "she went for a run round the block"
   • ▪ any urban or suburban area bounded by four streets: North American "ours was the ugliest house on the block"
   • ▪ the length of one side of a block, especially as a measure of distance: North American "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 batchgroupclustersetsectionquantityseries
   • ▪ a large piece of text processed as a unit.
   • 4. an obstacle to the normal progress or functioning of something: "substantial demands for time off may constitute a block to career advancement" Similar obstacleobstructionbarbarrierimpedimenthindrancecheckhurdlestumbling blockdifficultyproblemsnagdisadvantagecomplicationdrawbackhitchhandicapdeterrentblockageobstructionstoppagestopping upclotocclusionimpedimenthindrancecongestionOpposite assistanceencouragement
   • ▪ an act of blocking someone or something: "Marshall's shot drew a fine block from the goalkeeper"
   • ▪ a chock for stopping the motion of a wheel.
   • ▪ the spot on which a batter rests the end of the bat while waiting to receive a ball.
   • 5. a flat area of something, especially a solid area of colour: "cover the eyelid with a neutral block of colour"
   • ▪ an area of land, in particular a tract offered to an individual settler by a government. historical Australian, New Zealand
   • ▪ an urban or suburban building plot. Australian
   • 6. a pulley or system of pulleys mounted in a case: "a simple pulley block"

   verb

   • 1. make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible: "the narrow roads were blocked by cars" Similar clog (up)stop upchokeplugobstructgum upoccludedam upcongestjamcloseinformal:bung upgunge upOpposite unblockopen
   • ▪ put an obstacle in the way of (something proposed or attempted): "he stood up, blocking her escape" Similar hinderhamperobstructimpedeinhibitcheckarrestrestrictlimitdetercurbinterrupthaltstopbarpreventthwartbalkfrustratefoilscotchcircumventstand in the way ofinformal:fetterOpposite helpfacilitate
   • ▪ 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 sport) hinder or stop the movement or action of (an opponent, a ball, etc.): "Knight did well to block Soloman's shot" Similar parrystopdefend againstfend offstave offturn asidedeflecthold offavertrepelrebuffrepulsehold/keep at bay
   • ▪ stop (a ball) with the bat defensively.
   • ▪ play in such a way that opponents are prevented from establishing (a long suit).
   • 2. impress text or a design on (a book cover).
   • 3. shape or reshape (a hat) on a mould: "nobody cleans and blocks old felt hats any more"
   • 4. design or plan the movements of actors on a stage or movie set.

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • O

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   block noun (AREA) Add to word list. A2 [ C ] mainly US. the distance along a street from where one road crosses it to the place where the next road crosses it, or one part of a street like this, especially in a town or city: The museum is just six blocks away. My friend and I live on the same block.

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › block

   • Cached

   The meaning of BLOCK is a compact usually solid piece of substantial material especially when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose. How to use block in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Block.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › block

   • Cached

   a group of data stored as a unit on an external storage medium and handled as a unit by the computer for input or output: This file has 20 records per block. a section of storage locations in a computer allocated to a particular set of instructions or data.

5. www.thefreedictionary.com › blockBlock - definition of block by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › block

   • Cached

   1. a. A solid piece of a hard substance, such as wood, having one or more flat sides. b. Such a piece used as a construction member or as a support. c. Such a piece upon which chopping or cutting is done: a butcher's block. d. Such a piece upon which persons are beheaded.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishblock - Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of block noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › blockBlock - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › block

   A block is a painted wooden cube that kids build with, or a squarish chunk of anything, like a block of cheese or cement. And if you block someone, you prevent them from going past by getting in the way.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishBLOCK definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   A block of something such as tickets or shares is a large quantity of them, especially when they are all sold at the same time and are in a particular sequence or order. Those booking a block of seats get them at reduced rates. [+ of] Synonyms: batch, group, lot, collection More Synonyms of block. 11. countable noun.