block
block Lexical Profile
block Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An area of land surrounded by four streets in a city, or the distance along one of these sides.
"We walked three blocks down the avenue before finally spotting the entrance to the museum."
A large, solid piece of hard material, such as wood, stone, or ice, typically with flat surfaces on each side.
"The sculptor carefully chipped away at the marble block to reveal the figure hidden within."
An obstacle or hindrance to progress, movement, or normal functioning.
"After writing three chapters flawlessly, she hit a mental block that halted her progress for weeks."
• verb
To place an obstacle in the way of something, preventing movement or flow.
"A massive fallen tree blocked the main road into the valley, forcing commuters to find alternative routes."
To prevent an action, process, or event from occurring or succeeding.
"The defense attorneys attempted to block the admission of the controversial new evidence."
Word Nuance & Usage
Take care not to confuse 'block' with the homophone 'bloc', which refers specifically to a group of nations, parties, or factions sharing a common interest or goal (e.g., a voting bloc).
• Rhymes for block
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'blok', from Old French 'bloc', likely originating from a Germanic source such as Middle Dutch 'blok' or Old High German 'bloh', meaning 'trunk of a tree'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.