block
/blɔk/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A solid piece of a hard material, often with flat sides: A "block" is a solid, often rectangular, piece of material such as wood, stone, or concrete.
- A large building or group of buildings: A "block" can refer to a large building divided into separate units or a group of buildings bounded by streets.
- An obstacle or obstruction: A "block" is something that prevents movement or progress.
- A quantity or group of things treated as a unit: A "block" can be a large amount or number of things, such as seats or shares, considered together.
- A mental inability to remember or think: A "block" is a temporary inability to recall something, often due to stress.
- (Computing) A unit of data: In computing, a "block" is the smallest unit of data that can be stored or transferred.
Verb:
- To obstruct or prevent passage: To "block" means to put something in the way to stop movement or progress.
- To shape or form into a block: To "block" means to give something the shape of a block or to use a block as a mold.
- To stop something from happening or functioning: To "block" means to hinder, prevent, or interrupt an action, process, or signal.
- To be unable to remember: To "block" can mean to be unable to recall a memory.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The child built a tower with wooden blocks. (The child used solid pieces of wood for building.)
- She lives in an apartment block. (She lives in a large building containing many apartments.)
- There was a block in the pipe, causing the sink to flood. (An obstruction stopped the water flow.)
- He bought a block of tickets for the concert. (He purchased a large group of tickets together.)
- I have a mental block when it comes to remembering names. (I experience a temporary inability to recall names.)
Verb:
- A fallen tree blocked the road. (A tree obstructed the path of the road.)
- The sculptor blocked the marble before carving the details. (The sculptor shaped the marble into a rough form first.)
- The new law could block the construction project. (The law could prevent the project from proceeding.)
- I blocked his number on my phone. (I prevented his number from calling me.)
Advanced Usage
"to have a block against something": to have a psychological barrier preventing an action or thought.
- She has a block against public speaking. (She has a mental obstacle that prevents her from speaking in public.)
"to block out":
- To plan roughly: The architect blocked out the design for the new house. (The architect made a rough plan.)
- To exclude from awareness: He tried to block out the painful memories. (He tried to prevent the memories from entering his mind.)
"on the block": available for sale, especially at an auction.
- The rare painting will be put on the block next week. (The painting will be offered for sale at auction.)
Variants and Related Words
- Blockage (n): An obstruction.
- The blockage in the artery was serious.
- Blockade (n/v): An act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.
- The navy enforced a blockade of the port.
- Blocky (adj): Having a solid, angular shape.
- The video game has a blocky, pixelated art style.
Synonyms
- Noun (obstacle): Obstruction, barrier, impediment.
- Noun (chunk): Chunk, slab, lump.
- Verb (obstruct): Obstruct, hinder, impede, barricade.
- Verb (prevent): Prevent, stop, halt.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Block off: To close or obstruct an entrance, road, etc.
- The police blocked off the street after the accident.
- Block up: To fill or clog so that nothing can pass.
- Leaves blocked up the gutter.
- Block in: To park a car so closely that another vehicle cannot move.
- Someone blocked me in, so I couldn't leave the parking space.
Related Idioms
- A chip off the old block: A child who is very similar to one of their parents in character or appearance.
- He's a great mechanic, just like his father—a real chip off the old block.
- Put your head/neck on the block: To put yourself in a position where you could be blamed or punished if something goes wrong.
- I'm putting my neck on the block by guaranteeing this will work.
Noun
- the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
- a platform from which an auctioneer sells
- they put their paintings on the block
- an obstruction in a pipe or tube
- we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe
- a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine
- the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked
- a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope
- an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension
- I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block
- (computer science) a sector or group of sectors that function as the smallest data unit permitted
- since blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms `block' and `sector' are sometimes used interchangeably
- housing in a large building that is divided into separate units
- there is a block of classrooms in the west wing
- a number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit
- he reserved a large block of seats
- he held a large block of the company's stock
- a three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides
- a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings
- he lives in the next block
- a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
- the pyramids were built with large stone blocks
Verb
- prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)
- Blocked funds
- Freeze the assets of this hostile government
- shape into a block or blocks
- block the graphs so one can see the results clearly
- shape by using a block
- Block a hat
- block a garment
- be unable to remember
- I'm drawing a blank
- You are blocking the name of your first wife!
- impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)
- block an attack
- support, secure, or raise with a block
- block a plate for printing
- block the wheels of a car
- block passage through
- obstruct the path
- obstruct
- My nose is all stuffed
- Her arteries are blocked
- stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block
- block the book cover
- shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
- The thick curtain blocked the action on the stage
- The trees obstruct my view of the mountains
- interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia
- block a nerve
- block a muscle
- run on a block system
- block trains
- interfere with or prevent the reception of signals
- Jam the Voice of America
- block the signals emitted by this station
- stop from happening or developing
- Block his election
- Halt the process
- hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
- His brother blocked him at every turn
- render unsuitable for passage
- block the way
- barricade the streets
- stop the busy road