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• block
  block

  noun

  a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more flat or approximately flat faces.
• Block
  Block

  noun

  Herbert Lawrence Herblock, 1909–2001, U.S. cartoonist.

block

¹ American  

[blok] / blɒk /

noun

• blocks
  plural

1. a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more flat or approximately flat faces.

2. a hollow masonry building unit of cement, terracotta, etc..

   a wall made of concrete blocks.

3. one of a set of cube-shaped pieces of wood, plastic, or the like, used as a child's toy in building.

4. a mold or piece on which something is shaped or kept in shape.

   a hat block.

5. a piece of wood used in the art of making woodcuts or wood engravings.

6. Printing. the base on which a plate is mounted to make it type-high.

7. a projection left on a squared stone to provide a means of lifting it.

8. a short length of plank serving as a bridging, as between joists.

9. a stump or wooden structure on which a condemned person is beheaded.

   Mary Stuart went bravely to the block.

10. auction block.

11. Machinery. a part enclosing one or more freely rotating, grooved pulleys, about which ropes or chains pass to form a hoisting or hauling tackle.

12. an obstacle, obstruction, or hindrance.

    His stubbornness is a block to all my efforts.

    Synonyms:

    jam, stoppage, barrier, blockade, impediment

13. the state or condition of being obstructed; blockage.

    The traffic block lasted several hours.

14. Pathology.

    1. an obstruction, as of a nerve.

    2. heart block.

15. Sports. a hindering of an opponent's actions.

16. a quantity, portion, or section taken as a unit or dealt with at one time.

    a large block of theater tickets.

17. a small section of a city, town, etc., enclosed by neighboring and intersecting streets.

    She lives on my block.

18. the length of one side of such a section.

    We walked two blocks over.

19. Chiefly British. a large building divided into separate apartments, offices, shops, etc.

20. a large number of bonds or shares of stock sold together as a single unit.

21. Computers.

    1. 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.

    2. a section of storage locations in a computer allocated to a particular set of instructions or data.

    3. a group of consecutive machine words organized as a unit and guiding a particular computer operation, especially with reference to input and output.

    4. (on a flow chart) a symbol representing an operation, device, or instruction in a computer program.

22. Railroads. any of the short lengths into which a track is divided for signaling purposes.

23. Philately. a group of four or more unseparated stamps, not in a strip.

24. Slang. a person's head.

25. Glassmaking. a wooden or metal cup for blocking a gather.

26. an obstruction or stoppage in mental processes or speech, especially when related to stress, emotional conflict, etc.

27. writer's block.

28. Geology.

    1. any large, angular mass of solid rock.

    2. fault block.

29. (in Canada) a wild or remote area of land that has not yet been surveyed.

    the Peace River block.

30. Automotive. cylinder block.

31. Falconry. a low perch to which a falcon is tethered outdoors.

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verb (used with object)

• blocks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• blocked,
  past participle,  past
• blocking
  present participle

1. to obstruct (someone or something) by placing obstacles in the way (sometimes followed byup ).

   to block one's exit;

   to block up a passage.

   Synonyms:

   stop, deter, hinder, impede, blockade, close

2. to fit with blocks; mount on a block.

3. to shape or prepare on or with a block.

   to block a hat;

   to block a sweater.

4. to join (the ends of boards or the like) by fastening to a block of wood.

5. Theater.

   1. Also block out. to plan or work out the movement of performers in a play, pageant, etc..

      Tomorrow we'll block act one.

   2. to draw a floor plan on (a stage) in order to indicate placement of scenery, stage property, etc.

6. Pathology, Physiology. to stop the passage of impulses in (a nerve).

7. Computers. to group (contiguous data) together so as to allow to be read or written in a single operation.

8. Sports. to hinder or bar the actions or movements of (an opposing player), especially legitimately.

9. Glassmaking.

   1. to shape (a molten gather) in a wet cup of wood or metal.

   2. to plunge a block of wood into (molten glass) to aid in refining the glass.

10. Metalworking. to give (a forging) a rough form before finishing.

11. Electronics. to apply a high negative bias to the grid of (a vacuum tube), for reducing the plate current to zero.

verb (used without object)

• blocks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• blocked,
  past participle,  past
• blocking
  present participle

1. to act so as to obstruct an opponent, as in football, hockey, and basketball.

   He doesn't get many baskets, but he sure can block.

2. Theater. to block a play, act, scene, stage, etc..

   The director will block tomorrow.

3. to suffer a block.

verb phrase

1. block out

   1. block.

   2. Basketball. to box out.

2. block in / out to sketch or outline roughly or generally, without details.

   She blocked out a color scheme for the interiors.

idioms

1. put / go on the block, to offer or be offered for sale at auction.

   to put family heirlooms on the block.

Block ² American  

[blok] / blɒk /

noun

1. Herbert Lawrence Herblock, 1909–2001, U.S. cartoonist.

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block British  

/ blɒk /

noun

1. a large solid piece of wood, stone, or other material with flat rectangular sides, as for use in building

2. any large solid piece of wood, stone, etc, usually having at least one face fairly flat

3. such a piece on which particular tasks may be done, as chopping, cutting, or beheading

4. Also called: building block.  one of a set of wooden or plastic cubes as a child's toy

5. a form on which things are shaped or displayed

   a wig block

6. slang a person's head (esp in the phrase knock someone's block off )

7. slang to become angry

8. a dull, unemotional, or hardhearted person

9. a large building of offices, flats, etc

10. 1. a group of buildings in a city bounded by intersecting streets on each side

    2. the area or distance between such intersecting streets

11. an area of land for a house, farm, etc

12. a log, usually a willow, fastened to a timber base and used in a wood-chopping competition

13. an area of land, esp one to be divided for building or settling

14. See cylinder block

15. 1. a piece of wood, metal, or other material having an engraved, cast, or carved design in relief, used either for printing or for stamping book covers, etc

    2. a letterpress printing plate, esp one mounted type-high on wood or metal

16. a casing housing one or more freely rotating pulleys See also block and tackle

17. up for auction

18. the act of obstructing or condition of being obstructed, as in sports

19. an obstruction or hindrance

20. pathol

    1. interference in the normal physiological functioning of an organ or part

    2. See heart block

    3. See nerve block

21. psychol a short interruption of perceptual or thought processes

22. obstruction of an opponent in a sport

23. 1. a section or quantity, as of tickets or shares, handled or considered as a single unit

    2. ( as modifier )

       a block booking

       block voting

24. 1. a stretch of railway in which only one train may travel at a time

    2. ( as modifier )

       a block signal

25. an unseparated group of four or more postage stamps Compare strip 1

26. a pad of paper

27. computing a group of words treated as a unit of data on a tape, disk, etc

28. athletics short for starting block

29. cricket a mark made near the popping crease by a batsman to indicate his position in relation to the wicket

30. informal a person who resembles one of his or her parents in behaviour

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verb

1. to shape or form (something) into a block

2. to fit with or mount on a block

3. to shape by use of a block

   to block a hat

4. (often foll by up) to obstruct (a passage, channel, etc) or prevent or impede the motion or flow of (something or someone) by introducing an obstacle

   to block the traffic

   to block up a pipe

5. to impede, retard, or prevent (an action, procedure, etc)

6. to stamp (a title, design, etc) on (a book cover, etc) by means of a block (see sense 12), esp using gold leaf or other foil

7. (esp of a government or central bank) to limit the use or conversion of assets or currency

8. (also intr) sport to obstruct or impede movement by (an opponent)

9. (intr) to suffer a psychological block

10. to interrupt a physiological function, as by use of an anaesthetic

11. (also intr) cricket to play (a ball) defensively

block More Idioms  

1. see chip off the old block; knock someone's block off; on the block; stumbling block.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• blocker
  noun
• subblock
  noun
• reblock
  verb (used with object)
• blockable
  adjective
• unblocked
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• blocks
  plural

Participles

• blocking
  present
• blocked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• block
  simple
• blocks
  simple
• have blocked
  perfect
• has blocked
  perfect
• am blocking
  progressive
• are blocking
  progressive
• is blocking
  progressive
• have been blocking
  perfect progressive
• has been blocking
  perfect progressive

Past

• blocked
  simple
• had blocked
  perfect
• was blocking
  progressive
• were blocking
  progressive
• had been blocking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will block
  simple
• will have blocked
  perfect
• will be blocking
  progressive
• will have been blocking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of block

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English blok “log, stump,” from Middle French bloc, from Middle Dutch blok; perhaps akin to balk

Explanation

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. A sculptor might carve a bird out of a block of marble, and you might eat a whole block of chocolate after dinner. Another block is the row of buildings or houses between four streets: "I'm walking the dog around the block." When block is a verb it means "to obstruct," like when you block your dog from going near the cat food. All these meanings stem from the Old French root bloc, "block of wood."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

block Block blocks blocked blocking

"They have replaced America as the cool kids on the block."

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Ahead of this month’s trial, Meta petitioned the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to block it on grounds the company was immune from suit under the law.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

In recent days Meta, which has more than three billion users around the world, tried to block ex-Meta employee and expert witness, Arturo Bejar, from testifying.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

The AGs also claim Meta violates the 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act because it doesn’t do enough to block underage users who misrepresent their age.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

“Peachy,” I said, shutting my eyes for a second so I could block out the screenshot of my failure for a moment.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

H&R Block HRB 1.61%increase; up pointing triangle said fourth-quarter revenue rose and the company raised its quarterly dividend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Block described staring up at the gallery wall, transfixed by the horror.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

"Enjoy The @endofoakstreet Block Party chaos with me as my outfit literally melts in the heat!!"

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The flood was strong enough to sweep a 10,000-ton fragment of the dam, called Block 29, a full quarter-mile and to destroy a steel bridge on the Santa Clara River nine miles away.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Block the negative, make way for the positive.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

These tumors often create a "cold" tumor microenvironment that blocks immune cells from launching an effective attack.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

Cantor Fitzgerald will act as a broker, buying or selling blocks of event contracts and helping to distribute them through private negotiations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

First, defending in this way blocks the centre of the pitch making it difficult for opponents to find players through the middle.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

A few blocks away, Sloppy Joe's is closed too, despite being extensively restored by the team of Havana's famed historian, Eusebio Leal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

A few blocks past Specimen's house he heard a yowl from the bushes beside him.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

The agency intends to rescind a 2001 rule that blocked most development and timber harvesting in certain national forests, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Those who don't pay risk having their account on the platform blocked, effectively putting them out of business.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Ludivine Daurignac, the organiser of the residents' group, told the news agency the residents plan to file complaints to get "truth, transparency, and justice" and claimed they were blocked from meeting with the prime minister.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Records in Companies House show an attempt was made to wind up the company in March 2022, however, this was blocked for unstated reasons.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

“You’ve been pretending that nothing happened. It’s as if you’ve blocked it out of your mind. You’ve been indifferent, gallivanting around with James despite these secrets hanging around your neck.”

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

She said: "We were met by lines of riot police blocking our access."

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Louai Abu Ridi owns one of the three houses in Qusra, near Nablus, which settlers began besieging more than a week ago, trapping residents inside and effectively blocking supplies, generating condemnation around the world.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

But one of them has to beat out Shields, who intends to cause a whole lot of trouble blocking opponents over the next two seasons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Cambridge researchers have uncovered why both activating and blocking the same brain receptor can promote weight loss.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

She stepped in front of the admiral, blocking his way.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• arrest
• bar
• blockade
• clog
• close
• close off
• cut off
• deter
• halt
• hinder
• hold up
• impede
• intercept
• prevent
• stall
• stop
• thwart