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woodblock

American  
[wood-blok] / ˈwʊdˌblɒk /

noun

  1. a block of wood engraved in relief, for printing from; woodcut.

  2. a print or impression from such a block.

  3. a hollow block of hard wood struck with a wooden stick or mallet and used in the percussion section of an orchestra.


adjective

  1. made from a woodblock.

    woodblock prints.

Etymology

Origin of woodblock

First recorded in 1830–40; wood 1 + block

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

After that moving and unsettling encounter, the woodblock landscapes at Scholten Japanese Art offer an oasis in the middle of the Armory’s busy drill hall.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 10, 2026

Enlarged cutouts of samurai from woodblock prints strike aggressive poses between displays.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 7, 2026

A single stroke on a drum or woodblock isn’t just a beat or noise but it’s a moving wave of air that interacts with space, silence, and the body.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 19, 2025

This is English artist Charles William Bartlett’s 1919 woodblock print on paper rendition of Punjab’s Golden Temple, a sacred shrine for Sikhs.

From BBC Jul. 20, 2024

One rack with sixteen copper pots and pans hanging over a woodblock table.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

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