blockade

[blo-keyd]

noun

1. the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.

2. any obstruction of passage or progress.

   We had difficulty in getting through the blockade of bodyguards.

3. Pathology.,  interruption or inhibition of a normal physiological signal, as a nerve impulse or a heart muscle–contraction impulse.

verb (used with object)

blockaded, blockading 

1. to subject to a blockade.

blockade

/ blɒˈkeɪd /

noun

1. military the interdiction of a nation's sea lines of communications, esp of an individual port by the use of sea power

2. something that prevents access or progress

3. med the inhibition of the effect of a hormone or a drug, a transport system, or the action of a nerve by a drug

verb

1. to impose a blockade on

2. to obstruct the way to

Other Word Forms

• blockader noun
• counterblockade noun
• nonblockaded adjective
• preblockade noun
• problockade adjective
• unblockaded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blockade¹

1670–80; block (in the sense “to create obstacles”) + -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of blockade¹

C17: from _block + -ade , as in _ambuscade

Synonym Study

See siege.

Example Sentences

Large crowds took to the streets of multiple cities amid a growing wave of protest across Europe at Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip.

From BBC

Israel said its navy had told the boats to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade", while the GSF said the interceptions were "illegal".

From BBC

Israel said its navy told the boats to change course as they were "approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade", while the GSF described the interceptions as "illegal".

From BBC

"I fear that the flotilla's attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade could serve as a pretext to do so," Meloni said.

From BBC

The proposal, which Hamas negotiators received late night on Monday and are still studying, would immediately end the war and allow aid to flood Gaza, where Israel’s months-long blockade has triggered famine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barricade 
• closure 
• encirclement www.thesaurus.com
• restriction 
• roadblock 
• siege 
• stoppage