block

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance.

   • a block of ice; a block of stone
   • She picked up the block and examined it.
2. 2

   A physical area or extent of something, often rectangular or approximately rectangular.

   • a block of text; a block of colour; a block of land
3. 3

   A logical extent or region

   A logical extent or region; a grouping or apportionment of like things treated together as a unit.

   • a block of data; a block of seven days; a block reservation
   • The great game of golf offered an antidote to the inevitable dead space — blocks of difficult-to-use hours, pre- and postflight — that are one of business travel’s biggest drags.
4. ›+ 25 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A contiguous group of urban lots of property, typically several acres in extent, not…

      A contiguous group of urban lots of property, typically several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets.

      • I’m going for a walk around the block.
   2. 5

      A cuboid or approximately cuboid building.

      • a block of flats; a tower block; an office block; a toilet block; a shower block
      • He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.
   3. 6

      Something that prevents something from passing.

      • There’s a block in the pipe that means the water can’t get through.
   4. 7

      The human head.

      • I’ll knock your block off!
   5. 8

      Solitary confinement.

   6. 9

      A blockhead

      A blockhead; a stupid person; a dolt.

      • What a block art thou!
   7. 10

      To fill or obstruct (something) so that it is not possible to pass.

      • The pipe was blocked by leaves.
      • You’re blocking the road – I can’t get through!
      • However, at Manchester the junctions and signals are so close that a train running more slowly over several junctions simply blocks those junctions for longer, preventing other trains moving.
   8. 11

      To prevent (something or someone) from passing.

      • A broken-down car is blocking the traffic.
   9. 12

      To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something).

      • His plan to take over the business was blocked by the boss.
      • Mr. Ip, who was the chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong district council, became a target of protesters in July after he blocked debate on the extradition bill that incited the protests this summer.
   10. 13

       To impede (an opponent or opponent’s play).

       • He blocked the basketball player’s shot.
       • The offensive linemen tried to block the blitz.
   11. 14

       To specify the positions and movements of the actors for (a section of a play or film).

       • It was very difficult to block this scene convincingly.
   12. 15

       To hit with a block.

   13. 16

       To play a block shot.

   14. 17

       To bar (impose a ban on a person or bot, etc.) from connecting via telephone, instant…

       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.

       • I tried to send you a message, but you’ve blocked me!
       • The user who started the edit war was blocked for a day to cool off.
       • He messages her occasionally on Facebook, sending photos of grandkids and puppies he’s raised. Every year, he wishes her a happy birthday. She has not replied, but she has also not blocked him.
   15. 18

       To bar (a message or communication), or bar connection with (an online account or…

       To bar (a message or communication), or bar connection with (an online account or service, a designated telephone number, IP address, etc.).

       • They’ve blocked all calls to international numbers.
       • Most Internet services have been blocked.
   16. 19

       To wait for some condition to become true.

       • When the condition expression is false, the thread blocks on the condition variable.
       • Post is a “fire and forget” where the UI thread work is performed asynchronously; Send is synchronous in that the call blocks until the UI thread work has been performed.
   17. 20

       To shape, stretch, or mould knitted items, hats, books (and book covers), shoes, etc.

       • I blocked the mittens by wetting them and pinning them to a shaped piece of cardboard.
       • Then I finished knitting the socks and wove in all ends for each sock before soaking them in warm water and wool wash for 20 minutes and blocking them on sock blockers.
   18. 21

       To shape or sketch out roughly.

       • When drawing a scene, first block the main features, and then fill in the detail.
   19. 22

       To experience mental block or creative block.

   20. 23

       To knock the hat of (a person) down over their eyes.

   21. 24

       Misspelling of bloc.

   22. 25

       A surname.

       • The major themes in Francesca Lia Block's books include the necessity of love and the acceptance of and celebration of racial and sexual difference.
       • Zachary Block chats with Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen about their new show, Portlandia, which airs on IFC, Fridays at 10:30.
   23. 26

       An unincorporated community in Champaign County, Illinois, United States.

   24. 27

       An unincorporated community in Miami County, Kansas, United States.

   25. 28

       An unincorporated community in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States.

The neighborhood

• neighborbloc