block

== English == === Alternative forms === blocke (obsolete) === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /blɒk/ (General American) IPA(key): /blɑk/ Rhymes: -ɒk Homophone: bloc === Etymology 1 === From Middle English blok (“log, stump, solid piece”), from Old French bloc (“log, block”), from Middle Dutch blok (“treetrunk”), from Old Dutch *blok (“log”), from Proto-West Germanic *blokk, from Proto-Germanic *blukką (“beam, log”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵ- (“thick plank, beam, pile, prop”). Cognate with Old Frisian blok, Old Saxon blok, Old High German bloh, bloc (“block”), Old English bolca (“gangway of a ship, plank”), Old Norse bǫlkr (“divider, partition”). More at balk. See also bloc, bulk. ==== Noun ==== block (plural blocks) A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance. A chopping block: a cuboid base for cutting or beheading. Anne Boleyn placed her head on the block and awaited her execution. A wig block: a simplified head model upon which wigs are worn. A mould on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. (printing, dated) A piece of hard wood on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted. A case or frame housing one or more sheaves (pulleys), used with ropes to increase or redirect force, for example as part of lifting gear or a sailing ship's rigging. See also block and tackle. Synonym: pulley block A section of split logs used as fuel. A set of sheets (of paper) joined together at one end, forming a cuboid shape. (falconry) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept. (cellular automata) In Conway's Game of Life, a still life consisting of four living cells arranged in a two-by-two square. A physical area or extent of something, often rectangular or approximately rectangular. (philately) A joined group of four (or in some cases nine) postage stamps, forming a roughly square shape. (viticulture) A discrete group of vines in a vineyard, often distinguished from others by variety, clone, canopy training method, irrigation infrastructure, or some combination thereof. A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit. (computing) A logical data storage unit containing one or more physical sectors. Coordinate term: cluster (programming) A region of code in a program that acts as a single unit, such as a function or loop. (cryptography) A fixed-length group of bits making up part of a message. (chemistry) A portion of a macromolecule, comprising many units, that has at least one feature not present in adjacent portions. (rail transport) A section of a railroad where the block system is used. (computing) A contiguous range of Unicode code points used to encode characters of a specific type; can be of any size evenly divisible by 16, up to 65,536 (a full plane). (education) A yeargroup at Eton College. A contiguous group of urban lots of property, typically several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets. The distance from one street to another in a city or suburb that is built (approximately) to a grid pattern. Synonym: city block A cuboid or approximately cuboid building. A cellblock. Something that prevents something from passing. Synonyms: barrier, blockage, obstruction Interference or obstruction of cognitive processes. (backgammon) Any point on the board where two or more men rest, and consequently an opponent may not land. (sports) An action to interfere with the movement of an opposing player or of the object of play (ball, puck). Synonyms: stuff, roof, wall (cricket) A shot played by holding the bat vertically in the path of the ball, so that it loses momentum and drops to the ground. (cricket) The position of a player or bat when guarding the wicket. (cricket) A blockhole. (cricket) The popping crease. (volleyball) A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter’s court. (gymnastics) The portion of the movement where a gymnast pushes off the vault. (computing, social media) A temporary or permanent ban that prevents access to an online account or service, or connection to or from a designated telephone number, IP address, or similar. Synonym: (Bluesky) nuclear block (slang) The human head. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:head (UK) Solitary confinement. (obsolete) A blockhead; a stupid person; a dolt. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== bloc ===== Descendants ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== block (third-person singular simple present blocks, present participle blocking, simple past and past participle blocked) (transitive) To fill or obstruct (something) so that it is not possible to pass. Synonym: stop (transitive) To prevent (something or someone) from passing. (transitive) To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something). (transitive, sports) To impede (an opponent or opponent’s play). (transitive, theater) To specify the positions and movements of the actors for (a section of a play or film). (transitive, cricket) To hit with a block. (intransitive, cricket) To play a block shot. (transitive) To bar (impose a ban on a person or bot, etc.) from connecting via telephone, instant messaging, etc., or from accessing an online account or service, or similar. Synonym: (Bluesky) nuclear block (transitive) To bar (a message or communication), or bar connection with (an online account or service, a designated telephone number, IP address, etc.). (programming, intransitive) To wait for some condition to become true. (transitive) To stretch or mould (a knitted item, a hat, etc.) into the desired shape. (transitive) To shape or sketch out roughly. (intransitive) To experience mental block or creative block. (transitive, slang, obsolete) To knock the hat of (a person) down over their eyes. Synonym: bonnet ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === ==== Noun ==== block Misspelling of bloc. == Chinese == === Alternative forms === 卜 (bok1) === Etymology === From English block. Doublet of 薄lock. === Pronunciation === === Verb === block (Hong Kong Cantonese) (social media) to block (someone) == German == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /blɔk/ Homophones: Block, Blog, blogg === Verb === block singular imperative of blocken == Manx == === Etymology === Borrowed from English block. === Noun === block m (genitive singular bluick) block, log, cake (of soap) ==== Derived terms ==== block-lettyr === Mutation === == Portuguese == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English block. Doublet of bloco. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: (Brazil) -ɔki, (Portugal) -ɔkɨ Homophone: bloque (Brazil) === Noun === block m (plural blocks) (social media) block (temporary or permanent ban that prevents access to an online account or service) Synonym: bloqueio == Swedish == === Etymology === From Middle Low German block, from Old Saxon blok, from Proto-West Germanic *blokk, from Proto-Germanic *blukką. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈblɔk/ === Noun === block n a block, a boulder, a cuboid (of ice, wood, rock) a block, a pad, a notebook a block, a pulley a block, a piece of data storage a bloc (of voters or countries) ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== blockad blockera ==== See also ==== talja trissa === References === block in Svensk ordbok (SO) block in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL) block in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)