1. A solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
   "the pyramids were built with large stone blocks"
    
2. A rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings
   "he lives in the next block";
   - city block
    
3. A three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides
   "The children played with wooden blocks";
   - cube
    
4. Housing in a large building that is divided into separate units
   "there is a block of classrooms in the west wing"
    
5. A number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit
   "he reserved a large block of seats"; "he held a large block of the company's stock"
    
6. (computing) a sector or group of sectors that function as the smallest data unit permitted
   "since blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms ‘block’ and ‘sector’ are sometimes used interchangeably"
    
7. An obstruction in a pipe or tube
   "we had to call a plumber to clear out the block in the drainpipe";
   - blockage, stoppage
    
8. A metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine
   "the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked";
   - engine block, cylinder block
    
9. A simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope
   "The flagpole used a pulley-block system to raise and lower the flag";
   - pulley, pulley-block, pulley block
    
10. An inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension
    "I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block";
    - mental block
     
11. A platform from which an auctioneer sells
    "they put their paintings on the block";
    - auction block
     
12. The act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
    "The offensive lineman's block allowed the quarterback to make the pass";
    - blocking

1. Render unsuitable for passage
   "block the way"; "block off the streets"; "block up the streets";
   - barricade, blockade, stop, block off, block up, bar
    
2. Hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
   "His brother blocked him at every turn";
   - obstruct, blockade, hinder, stymie, stymy [rare], embarrass [archaic]
    
3. Prevent from happening or developing
   "Block his election";
   - stop, halt, kibosh [informal], kybosh [informal]
    
4. Shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
   "The thick curtain blocked the action on the stage";
   - obstruct
    
5. Block passage through
   "block the path";
   - obstruct, obturate, impede, occlude, jam, close up
    
6. Fill or become filled to the point of obstruction
   "Her arteries are blocked";
   - stuff, choke up
    
7. Interfere with or prevent the reception of signals
   "block the signals emitted by this station";
   - jam
    
8. Impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)
   "block an attack";
   - parry, deflect
    
9. Prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)
   "Blocked funds";
   - freeze, immobilize, immobilise [Brit]
    
10. Interrupt the normal function of by means of anaesthesia
    "block a nerve"; "block a muscle"
     
11. Run on a block system
    "block trains"
     
12. Stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block
    "block the book cover"
     
13. Be unable to remember
    "You are blocking the name of your first wife!";
    - forget, blank out, draw a blank, disremember [US, informal]
     
14. Shape by using a block
    "Block a hat"; "block a garment"
     
15. Shape into a block or blocks
    "block the graphs so one can see the results clearly"
     
16. Support, secure, or raise with a block
    "block a plate for printing"; "block the wheels of a car"

Sounds like: bloc, Bloch

Derived forms: blocking, blocks, blocked

Type of: accumulation, aggregation, anaesthetise [Brit], anaesthetize [Brit, Cdn], anesthetize [N. Amer], area, artefact [Brit], artifact [N. Amer], assemblage, back up, boss, cast, casting, cerebrate, choke, choke off, clog, clog up, cogitate, collection, computer memory unit, conceal, congest, country, cut off, disrupt, emboss, entrammel [literary], fence, fetter [literary], forbid, foreclose, forestall, form, foul, hide, hinder, hold, hold up, housing, impede, impediment, impedimenta, inability, interrupt, keep back, living accommodations, lodging, machine, obstructer, obstruction, obstructor, operate, platform, preclude, prevent, put out, put under, run, shape, simple machine, solid, stamp, support, sustain, think, trammel [literary], withhold

Antonym: loosen up, release

Part of: block and tackle, ICE, internal-combustion engine, reciprocating engine

Encyclopedia: Block, Martin