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.

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adjective

1. made from a woodblock.

   woodblock prints.

Etymology

Origin of woodblock

First recorded in 1830–40; wood ¹ + block

Example Sentences

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

He designed 38 woodblock prints for his Japanese publisher from 1916 to 1925, including many scenes from his travels in South Asia.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

The work, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, is intricately layered.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2023

I brought the stack of cards to my lap, sifting through the images before deciding on a Japanese woodblock print with white foam like snow atop the blue ocean waves.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen