noun
block
blok
noun
1
A solid piece of a hard material, usually with flat sides.
"The wall was built from concrete blocks."
"He chopped vegetables on the wooden block."
2
A section of a city bounded by streets, or the distance along one such section.
"The bakery is just two blocks from here."
3
Something that stops progress or prevents access.
"A mental block kept her from finishing the essay."
"A fallen tree caused a block in the road."
verb
1
To obstruct or prevent something from passing or happening.
"Protesters blocked the entrance to the building."
"The committee blocked the new proposal."
2
To stop someone from contacting you online.
"She blocked her ex on every social media app."
How to Use Block
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA solid chunk of something, a city section, or (as a verb) to stop something from getting through.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
block a road
block someone
writer's block
city block
Word Forms
blocked past tense, blocks plural, Blocks plural, blocks singular
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Etymology
From Old French bloc, ultimately from a Germanic word for a tree trunk or log.