block

UK /blɒk/ US /blɑk/

noun 6verb 5name 5

Collocations

27

1

(noun.) solid piece of sth

ADJ

big, huge, large, massive | small | solid | concrete, stone, wooden | building

starting (for a runner)

The young athlete exploded from the starting blocks and raced ahead of all the other competitors.

breeze

2

(noun.) large building divided into offices/flats

ADJ

high-rise, tower

administration, apartment, cell, office

The new administration block opened last month near the university campus.

PREP

in a/the ~

My grandfather worked as a caretaker in a residential block for thirty years.

~ of

A large block of stone was discovered during the construction of the new building.

3

(noun.) temporary loss of abilities

ADJ

mental, writer's

I've been struggling with writer's block for two weeks and can't finish my essay.

VERB + BLOCK

experience, have, suffer from

The writer experienced a creative block and couldn't finish the novel for months.

4

(verb.) make it difficult to pass

ADV

completely | almost | partially, partly

off, up

The construction workers blocked off the street for repairs last week.

VERB + BLOCK

try to

move to

The defender moved to block the goalkeeper's view of the field.

PREP

with

A fallen tree blocked the road with branches after the storm.

5

(verb.) prevent sth being done

ADV

successfully

effectively

The heavy traffic effectively blocked our route to the airport yesterday afternoon.

VERB + BLOCK

attempt to, seek to, try to

move to

Several environmental organizations moved to block the construction of the new highway.

PHRASAL VERBS block sth out

ADV

completely

Heavy snow completely blocked the mountain road for three days last week.

almost

Definitions

noun

1

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

a block of ice; a block of stone

She picked up the block and examined it.

2

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

Anne Boleyn placed her head on the block and awaited her execution.

You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year.

3

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

Next morning, Monday, after disposing of the embalmed head to a barber, for a block, I settled my own and comrade’s bill; using, however, my comrade’s money.

4

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block.

5

A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

verb

1

To fill or obstruct (something) so that it is not possible to pass.

The pipe was blocked by leaves.

You’re blocking the road – I can’t get through!

2

To prevent (something or someone) from passing.

A broken-down car is blocking the traffic.

3

To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something).

His plan to take over the business was blocked by the boss.

Mr. Ip, who was the chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong district council, became a target of protesters in July after he blocked debate on the extradition bill that incited the protests this summer.

4

To impede (an opponent or opponent’s play).

He blocked the basketball player’s shot.

The offensive linemen tried to block the blitz.

5

To specify the positions and movements of the actors for (a section of a play or film).

It was very difficult to block this scene convincingly.

noun

1

Misspelling of bloc.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements

blocking

noun — an obstruction in a pipe or tube

noun — a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in whic

pulley
pulley-block

noun — a three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sid

cube

verb — prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)

freeze
immobilize
immobilise

verb — be unable to remember

forget

verb — interfere with or prevent the reception of signals

jam

verb — impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)

verb — block passage through

verb — render unsuitable for passage

verb — obstruct

verb — shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sigh

obstruct

verb — hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

verb — stop from happening or developing

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

stumbling block

A hindrance, obstacle or impediment; an opportunity for error.

Idioms are a common stumbling block for learners of a language.

chip off the old block

Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.

He's a chip off the old block—quick to anger just like his father.

gapers' block

A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.

In the lingo of the traffic reporters, "gapers' block" is a tie-up caused by motorists slowing down to gape at an accident.

block out

to prevent from entering or penetrating.

High-factor suncream blocks out the sun's rays.

new kid on the block

Someone or something new to an existing community.

While the Reform Party is the new kid on the block, its members who attended its first national convention this weekend acted like delegates to any other political convention.

Example Bank

6

01

a block of ice; a block of stone

Wiktionary

02

She picked up the block and examined it.

Wiktionary

03

Anne Boleyn placed her head on the block and awaited her execution.

Wiktionary

04

The pipe was blocked by leaves.

Wiktionary

05

You’re blocking the road – I can’t get through!

Wiktionary

06

However, at Manchester the junctions and signals are so close that a train running more slowly over several junctions simply blocks those junctions for longer, preventing other trains moving.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, block is marked as dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars