chock

American  

[chok] / tʃɒk /

noun

1. a wedge or block of wood, metal, or the like, for filling in a space, holding an object steady, etc.

2. Nautical.

   1. any of various heavy metal fittings on a deck or wharf that serve as fairleads for cables or chains.

   2. a shaped support or cradle for a ship's boat, barrel, etc.

   3. a small wooden piece or timber for filling a gap, reinforcing an angle, etc., in a wooden vessel.

3. Metalworking. a bearing supporting the end of a rolling mill.

4. Mining. a roof support made of cribbing filled with stones.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with or secure by a chock or chocks.

2. Nautical. to place (a boat) upon chocks.

adverb

1. as close or tight as possible.

   chock against the edge.

chock British  

/ tʃɒk /

noun

1. a block or wedge of wood used to prevent the sliding or rolling of a heavy object

2. nautical

   1. a fairlead consisting of a ringlike device with an opening at the top through which a rope is placed

   2. a cradle-like support for a boat, barrel, etc

3. mountaineering See nut

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verb

1. (usually foll by up) to cram full

   chocked up with newspapers

2. to fit with or secure by a chock

3. to support (a boat, barrel, etc) on chocks

adverb

1. as closely or tightly as possible

   chock against the wall

Etymology

Origin of chock

Middle English < Anglo-French choque (compare modern Picard choke big log, Normandy dial. chouque ), Old French çoche ( French soche ); of uncertain origin

Explanation

A chock is a wedge of wood or metal that you place behind a wheel to keep a vehicle from rolling. Mechanics often use a chock as a safety measure while they're working on a car. Even if you've set the parking brake on your car, it's safer to also use a chock while you're working on it to ensure it doesn't move. There are special chocks for motorcycles, airplanes, and heavy trucks. You can also use chock as a verb, to mean "stop from rolling forward." The word's original meaning was "lumpy piece of wood," from Old North French choque, or "block."

Example Sentences

It already bore the hallmarks of her best work: Rhythmically and lyrically dextrous, and chock full of personality.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

If words truly matter, then Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate was chock full of language aimed at undecided voters.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2024

"When you think about existing cancer genes and the DNA sequences around them, they're just chock full of these repeats," says Victor E. Velculescu, M.D.,

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2024

The film is chock full of black humor set against steampunk visual design.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024

“You know it’s chock full of information, and some of it might be exactly what Mr. Benedict needs....”

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Related Words

• cluster
• congest
• congregate
• deluge
• flock
• gather
• huddle
• overcrowd
• pack
• pile
• squeeze
• stream
• swamp
• swarm
• throng