Definition of Block

1. Noun. A solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides). "The pyramids were built with large stone blocks"


2. Verb. Render unsuitable for passage. "Stop the busy road"
Exact synonyms: Bar, Barricade, Block Off, Block Up, Blockade, Stop
Generic synonyms: Close Up, Impede, Jam, Obstruct, Obturate, Occlude
Specialized synonyms: Block Off, Close Off, Shut Off, Close
Related verbs: Obstruct
Derivative terms: Bar, Barricade, Barricade, Blockage, Blocking, Blockade, Stop, Stopper

3. Noun. A rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings. "He lives in the next block"
Exact synonyms: City Block
Generic synonyms: Area, Country

4. Verb. Hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of. "His brother blocked him at every turn"

5. Noun. A three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides.
Exact synonyms: Cube
Specialized synonyms: Goldbrick
Generic synonyms: Solid
Derivative terms: Blocky, Cube, Cubical, Cuboidal

6. Verb. Stop from happening or developing. "They block him from writing the letter"; "Halt the process"
Exact synonyms: Halt, Kibosh, Stop
Specialized synonyms: Embargo, Stay
Generic synonyms: Forbid, Foreclose, Forestall, Preclude, Prevent
Derivative terms: Blockage, Halt, Halt, Stop

7. Noun. A number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit. "He held a large block of the company's stock"

8. Verb. Interfere with or prevent the reception of signals. "Block the signals emitted by this station"
Exact synonyms: Jam
Generic synonyms: Break Up, Cut Off, Disrupt, Interrupt
Specialized synonyms: Barrage Jam, Point Jam, Spot Jam, Blanket Jam
Derivative terms: Jam, Jamming

9. Noun. Housing in a large building that is divided into separate units. "There is a block of classrooms in the west wing"
Specialized synonyms: Cellblock, Ward, Hospital Ward, Ward
Generic synonyms: Housing, Living Accommodations, Lodging

10. Verb. Run on a block system. "Block trains"
Generic synonyms: Operate, Run

11. 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"
Category relationships: Computer Science, Computing
Generic synonyms: Computer Memory Unit
Terms within: Sector
Specialized synonyms: Bad Block

12. Verb. Interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia. "Block a muscle"
Generic synonyms: Anaesthetise, Anaesthetize, Anesthetise, Anesthetize, Put Out, Put Under
Derivative terms: Blocker

13. 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"
Exact synonyms: Mental Block
Generic synonyms: Inability
Specialized synonyms: Writer's Block

14. Verb. Shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight. "The trees obstruct my view of the mountains"
Exact synonyms: Obstruct
Related verbs: Bar, Barricade, Block Off, Block Up, Blockade, Stop
Generic synonyms: Conceal, Hide
Derivative terms: Blockage

15. 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.
Exact synonyms: Pulley, Pulley Block, Pulley-block
Group relationships: Block And Tackle
Specialized synonyms: Bollock, Bullock Block, Fairlead, Idle Pulley, Idle Wheel, Idler Pulley
Generic synonyms: Machine, Simple Machine

16. Verb. Stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block. "Block the book cover"
Generic synonyms: Boss, Emboss, Stamp

17. Noun. A metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine. "The engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked"
Exact synonyms: Cylinder Block, Engine Block
Generic synonyms: Cast, Casting
Terms within: Cylinder, Piston Chamber
Group relationships: Ice, Internal-combustion Engine, Reciprocating Engine

18. Verb. Obstruct. "Her arteries are blocked"
Exact synonyms: Choke Up, Lug, Stuff
Generic synonyms: Back Up, Choke, Choke Off, Clog, Clog Up, Congest, Foul
Derivative terms: Blockage
Antonyms: Unstuff

19. Noun. An obstruction in a pipe or tube. "We had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe"

20. Verb. Block passage through. "Obstruct the path"

21. Noun. A platform from which an auctioneer sells. "They put their paintings on the block"
Exact synonyms: Auction Block
Generic synonyms: Platform

22. Verb. Support, secure, or raise with a block. "Block the wheels of a car"
Generic synonyms: Hold, Hold Up, Support, Sustain

23. Noun. The act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements.
Exact synonyms: Blocking
Generic synonyms: Obstruction
Specialized synonyms: Interference, Trap Block, Parry

24. Verb. Impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball). "The fighter managed to block his opponent"; "Block an attack"
Exact synonyms: Deflect, Parry
Generic synonyms: Fence
Derivative terms: Blockage, Blocker, Blocking, Parry

25. Verb. Be unable to remember. "They won't block the story "; "You are blocking the name of your first wife!"
Exact synonyms: Blank Out, Draw A Blank, Forget
Specialized synonyms: Slip, Slip One's Mind
Antonyms: Remember

26. Verb. Shape by using a block. "Block a garment"
Generic synonyms: Form, Shape

27. Verb. Shape into a block or blocks. "Block the graphs so one can see the results clearly"
Generic synonyms: Form, Shape

28. Verb. Prohibit the conversion or use of (assets). "They block the money "; "Freeze the assets of this hostile government"
Exact synonyms: Freeze, Immobilise, Immobilize
Generic synonyms: Keep Back, Withhold
Antonyms: Unblock, Unfreeze
Derivative terms: Freeze

Definition of Block

1. n. 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.

2. v. t. 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.

3. n. In Australia, one of the large lots into which public land, when opened to settlers, is divided by the government surveyors.

Definition of Block

1. to obstruct [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: obstruct

Medical Definition of Block

1. An obstruction or stoppage. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Block Pictures

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Lexicographical Neighbors of Block

bloats
bloatware
bloatwares
blob
blob
blobbed
blobbing
blobs
bloc
Blocadren
Bloch
Bloch's reaction
Bloch-Sulzberger disease
Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome
block (current term)
block (current term)
block-out
blockable
blockade
blockade
blockade-runner
blockaded
blockader
blockaders
blockades
blockading
blockage
blockages
blockbust
blockbusted

Literary usage of Block

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Field Geology by Frederic Henry Lahee (1917)
"block DIAGRAMS 335. Definitions.—One of the most successful methods of geologic illustration, both for popular and for scientific demonstration, ..."

2. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1890)
"The east half of lot 6, block 75, plat A aforesaid, known as the "Guardo House" ... A portion of block 88, plat A aforesaid, known as part of the "Tithing ..."

3. Biennial Report by California Dept. of Agriculture, California State Commission of Horticulture (1894)
"Two numbers are assigned to each block, the odd ones upon the left and the even ... Any house having an ENTRANCE in a block has the number of the block. ..."

4. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1897)
"A cylindrical block of 82 mm. diameter and of 55 g. weight was compared with a series of ... The subject first lifted the large block, and then picked out, ..."

5. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1921)
"(10« SK) on the Lawton-Jordan property, all from Isaac block. The loan on the Lawton-Jordan property was subsequently reduced to $20,- 000. ..."

6. Nature by Norman Lockyer (1878)
"The essential principle of what is known as the block- system, is the insuring of ... This is the one principle of the block system and all the various ..."

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