block

I UK [blɒk] / US [blɑk] noun [countable]
Word forms "block":
singular block plural blocks
***

1)

a) a large building with a lot of different levels

There's a flat available in the block where I live.

an apartment/office/high-rise block

block of flats:

The whole block of flats was destroyed.

b) a building that is part of a larger building or group of buildings

The main block of the hotel dates back to 1650.

The prison's administration block overlooks the exercise yard.

2) an area of buildings in a town or city with streets on all four sides

I was early for the meeting, so I walked around the block a couple of times.

a) mainly American the distance along a city street from where one road crosses it to the next road

The school was only a few blocks from where she lived.

b) Australian an area of land, especially for building on

3) a solid piece of wood, stone, ice etc with straight sides

The baby was playing with wooden blocks.

block of:

It's amazing to think that this huge statue was carved from a single block of marble.

4)

a) an amount of something, or a number of individual things that are considered together as a single object

block of:

The company buys blocks of seats from airlines, then sells them to the public.

block of:

You can move blocks of text on-screen using the mouse.

b) computing an amount of information considered as one unit, used when writing computer programs

block of:

The hard disk contains a block of data known as the "boot" section.

5) a continuous period of time

We need to find a two-hour block when we are all free for this seminar.

6) [usually singular] something that stops you from doing something or being successful

The issue of holiday pay was the major block in reaching an agreement.

7) [usually singular] a short time when you are unable to think clearly or remember something that you usually know

I had a sudden block and couldn't remember his name.

See:

mental block, writer's block

8)

a) something that stops movement through a place or along something

There must be a block in the pipeline.

b) a movement that stops someone from hitting you or from going forwards

9) the blocks

[plural] two pieces of metal or wood that runners use at the start of a race to push their feet against

•

have been around the block (a couple of/a few times) — informal to have a lot of experience of something, especially when this means that it is difficult to trick or surprise you

When you've been around the block as many times as I have, not much shocks you any more.

I'll knock your/his etc block off — spoken used for threatening to hit someone who has annoyed you

put your head/neck on the block — to take a risk by doing or saying something that might damage your reputation, make people criticize you etc

- on the block

- put a block on something

See:

chip I, kid I, stumbling block

II UK [blɒk] / US [blɑk] verb [transitive]
Word forms "block":
present tense I/you/we/they block he/she/it blocks present participle blocking past tense blocked past participle blocked
**

1) block or block up to stop something from moving through or along something else

A car was blocking the road.

Something is blocking the flow of water through the pipe.

a) to stop someone from going past you by standing in front of them

block someone's way/exit/path etc:

A crowd of people blocked his way to the gate.

He stood by the door, deliberately blocking her exit.

b) to use your body to stop someone from hitting something, or to stop a ball from going somewhere

She expertly blocked all her opponent's punches.

In blocking the goal shot, Mario sprained his shoulder.

2) to be in front of someone so that they cannot see something or so that light cannot reach them

Her hat was blocking his view of the screen.

Don't stand in the doorway, you're blocking the light.

3)

a) to use your power to stop something from being done or from succeeding

She accused him of blocking her promotion.

The plan to build a new nursery school was blocked by local residents.

b) to stop a natural process from happening

The drug acts by blocking the release of testosterone.

4) computing to mark a piece of writing or other information on a computer screen so you can do something with it

You block a passage of text and hit Control+C to centre it on the page.

Phrasal verbs:

- block in

- block off

- block out

- block up