block

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /blɒk/
• SAMPA: /blQk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: bloc

Noun

Singular block

Plural blocks

Many different blocks of different sizes

1. A block is a hard piece of material, usually with six smooth sides.

   When I was young, I liked building things with wooden blocks.

2. A city block is the distance from one road to the next.

   We have to walk about three blocks to the restaurant.

3. In computers, a block is a restriction that prevents access to something.

   I could not start a page on Wikipedia because of a block.

Verb

Plain form block

Third-person singular blocks

Past tense blocked

Past participle blocked

Present participle blocking

1. (transitive) If $X$ is blocking $Y$, then $Y$ can't go past $X$.

   The water in the bath won't go down. There's something blocking the drain.

   The road was blocked by police.

   Excuse me! You're blocking my view. I can't see.

Related words

• block out
• blockage