block
blok
Block (noun) means a solid piece of a hard material, usually with flat sides. Example: “The sculptor chipped away at a huge block of marble for months.”
noun
1
A solid piece of a hard material, usually with flat sides.
"The sculptor chipped away at a huge block of marble for months."
"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.
"We walked around the block twice while we waited for the taxi."
"The library is three blocks north of the station, past the park."
"The bakery is just two blocks from here."
3
Something that stops progress or prevents access.
"Lack of money proved a real block to their plans for a bigger house."
"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.
"Please do not block the corridor with those boxes, because people need to pass."
"Protesters blocked the entrance to the building."
"The committee blocked the new proposal."
2
To stop someone from contacting you online.
"If a stranger keeps messaging you, just block them and report the account."
"He blocked the number after receiving too many spam calls and messages."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- blocks
- Third person singular
- blocks
- Past tense
- blocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sculptor chipped away at a huge _____ of marble for months.
Etymology
From Old French bloc, ultimately from a Germanic word for a tree trunk or log.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for block
See all rhymes for block →Frequently asked questions
What does “block” mean?
The word “block” means a solid piece of a hard material, usually with flat sides. In plain terms, a solid chunk of something, a city section, or (as a verb) to stop something from getting through.
How do you pronounce “block”?
“Block” is pronounced blok (/blɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “block” in a sentence?
Here is “block” used in a sentence: “The wall was built from concrete blocks.”
What part of speech is “block”?
Depending on how it is used, “block” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “block” come from?
The word “block” comes from Old French. From Old French bloc, ultimately from a Germanic word for a tree trunk or log.
Is “block” a common word?
“Block” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “block” have?
“Block” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a solid piece of a hard material, usually with flat sides.
What is the difference between a block and a bloc?
A block is a solid piece of hard material, like a block of wood or stone, and has many other everyday meanings. A bloc is a group of countries, parties, or people united by a shared interest, such as a trading bloc. They sound alike but are unrelated.
What is the difference between a block and a brick?
A brick is a small, standardised building unit, traditionally made of fired clay and sized to fit in one hand. A block is larger and more general — often a bigger unit of concrete used in building, or simply any solid, flat-sided lump of hard material.
What is an example of a block?
Examples include a child's wooden building block, a block of ice, a concrete block in a wall, a butcher's chopping block, or a block of cheese. Each is a solid, usually flat-sided piece of hard material — the core meaning of the word.
What are the other meanings of block?
Beyond a solid piece, 'block' has many senses. It can mean a section of a town between streets, as in a city block; to block is to obstruct or stop something; and in computing or scheduling it can mean a chunk of data, code, or time.
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