block

Meaning

Noun

1. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
2. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
3. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
4. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
5. (dated) A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
6. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
7. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
8. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
9. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
10. A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.
11. A physical area or extent of something, often rectangular or approximately rectangular.
12. A physical area or extent of something, often rectangular or approximately rectangular.
13. A physical area or extent of something, often rectangular or approximately rectangular.
14. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
15. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
16. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
17. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
18. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
19. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
20. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
21. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.
22. A contiguous group of urban lots of property, typically several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets.
23. A contiguous group of urban lots of property, typically several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets.
24. A cuboid or approximately cuboid building.
25. A cuboid or approximately cuboid building.
26. Something that prevents something from passing.
27. Something that prevents something from passing.
28. Something that prevents something from passing.
29. Something that prevents something from passing.
30. Something that prevents something from passing.
31. Something that prevents something from passing.
32. Something that prevents something from passing.
33. Something that prevents something from passing.
34. Something that prevents something from passing.
35. Something that prevents something from passing.
36. Something that prevents something from passing.
37. (slang) The human head.
38. (UK) Solitary confinement.
39. (obsolete) A blockhead; a stupid person; a dolt.

Verb

1. (transitive) To fill or obstruct (something) so that it is not possible to pass.
2. (transitive) To prevent (something or someone) from passing.
3. (transitive) To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something).
4. (transitive) To impede (an opponent or opponent’s play).
5. (transitive) To specify the positions and movements of the actors for (a section of a play or film).
6. (transitive) To hit with a block.
7. (intransitive) To play a block shot.
8. (transitive) To bar (impose a ban on a person or bot, etc.) from connecting via telephone, instant messaging, etc., or from accessing an online account or service, or similar.
9. (transitive) To bar (a message or communication), or bar connection with (an online account or service, a designated telephone number, IP address, etc.).
10. (intransitive) To wait for some condition to become true.
11. (transitive) To stretch or mould (a knitted item, a hat, etc.) into the desired shape.
12. (transitive) To shape or sketch out roughly.
13. (intransitive) To experience mental block or creative block.
14. (obsolete, slang, transitive) To knock the hat of (a person) down over their eyes.

Synonyms

obstruct

hinder

stop

🛑

bar

impede

prevent

obstruction

clog

blockade

log

check

thwart

stop up

choke

plug

barrier

pulley

barricade

blocking

jam

stymie

obstacle

stoppage

intercept

parry

close

block up

hamper

halt

hindrance

stuff

forbid

cover

stymy

blockage

cut off

shut

batch

seal

🦭

congest

block off

stump

hurdle

impediment

choke up

occlude

pad

draw a blank

oppose

section

Translations

Block

blocco

bloc

bloquer

bloccare

bloque

blok

barrer

blockieren

bloquear

blocar

Klotz

boucher

billot

Pronounced as (IPA)

/blɒk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: blok

Cognate with Old Frisian: blok

Cognate with Old Saxon: blok

Cognate with Old High German: bloh

Cognate with Old English: bolca

Cognate with Old Norse: bǫlkr

In summary

From Middle English blok (“log, stump, solid piece”), from Old French bloc (“log, block”), from Middle Dutch blok (“treetrunk”), from Old Dutch *blok (“log”), from Proto-West Germanic *blokk, from Proto-Germanic *blukką (“beam, log”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“thick plank, beam, pile, prop”). Cognate with Old Frisian blok, Old Saxon blok, Old High German bloh, bloc (“block”), Old English bolca (“gangway of a ship, plank”), Old Norse bǫlkr (“divider, partition”). More at balk. See also bloc, bulk.