block

noun countable

UK /blɒk/

Word Forms

singular	block
plural	blocks

1
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.
Synonyms and related words
General words for buildings and structures
bhavan
block
build
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  Groups of buildings
  barracks
  block
  centre
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.
Synonyms and related words
Areas in towns or cities
agora
area
armpit
1. 2a
  mainly Americanthe 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.
  Synonyms and related words
  Areas in towns or cities
  agora
  area
  armpit
2. 2b
  Australianan area of land, especially for building on
  Synonyms and related words
  Areas of land for building on
  block
  building site
  construction site
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.
Synonyms and related words
Words for amounts of specific substances
billow
block
cloud
4
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.
Synonyms and related words
General words for numbers, amounts and quantities
accumulation
allocation
allowance
1. 4a
  computingan 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.
  Synonyms and related words
  Units for measuring computer information or speed
  bandwidth
  baud
  bit
5
a continuous period of time
We need to find a two-hour block when we are all free for this seminar.
Synonyms and related words
General periods of time
a clear run
a page in something’s history
block
6
usually singularsomething that stops you from doing something or being successful
The issue of holiday pay was the major block in reaching an agreement.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
7
usually singulara 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.
Synonyms and related words
Forgetful and forgetfulness
forgetful
absent-minded
scatty
See alsomental block
See alsowriter’s block
8
something that stops movement through a place or along something
There must be a block in the pipeline.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
1. 8a
  a movement that stops someone from hitting you or from going forwards
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
9

the blocks
plural two pieces of metal or wood that runners use at the start of a race to push their feet against
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton

phrases

have been around the block (a couple of/a few times)

I’ll knock your/his etc block off

on the block

put a block on something

put your head/neck on the block

block

noun countable

US /blɑk/

Word Forms

singular	block
plural	blocks

1
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.
Synonyms and related words
Words for amounts of specific substances
billow
block
cloud
2
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.
Synonyms and related words
Areas in towns or cities
agora
area
armpit
1. 2a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  Areas in towns or cities
  agora
  area
  armpit
2. 2b
  Australianan area of land, especially for building on
  Synonyms and related words
  Areas of land for building on
  block
  brownfield
  building site
3
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.
Synonyms and related words
General words for numbers, amounts and quantities
accumulation
allocation
allowance
1. 3a
  computingan 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.”
  Synonyms and related words
  Units for measuring computer information or speed
  bandwidth
  baud
  bit
4
a continuous period of time
We need to find a two-hour block when we are all free for this seminar.
Synonyms and related words
General periods of time
a clear run
a page in something’s history
block
5
a building that is part of a larger building or group of buildings
The prison’s administration block overlooks the exercise yard.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of buildings
apartment complex
barracks
block
1. 5a
  a large building with a lot of different levels
  There’s a unit available in the apartment block where I live.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for buildings and structures
  block
  build
  building
6

the blocks
plural two pieces of metal or wood that runners use at the start of a race to push their feet against
Synonyms and related words
Races and racing
ahead
a poor second
baton
7
something that stops movement through a place or along something
There must be a block in the pipeline.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
1. 7a
  a movement that stops someone from hitting you or from going forward
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
8
usually singularsomething that stops you from doing something or being successful
The issue of vacation pay was the major block in reaching an agreement.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
9
usually singulara 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.
Synonyms and related words
Forgetful and forgetfulness
forgetful
absent-minded
oblivion
See alsowriter’s block
See alsomental block

phrases

have been around the block (a couple of/a few times)

I’ll knock your/his etc. block off

on the block

put your head/neck on the block

block

verb transitive

UK /blɒk/

Word Forms

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.
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone or something from moving
hold back
intercept
obstruct
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
2. 1b
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in a game or sport
  blank
  block
  bully off
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.
Synonyms and related words
To hide, or to hide something
hide
cover
obscure
3
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.
Synonyms and related words
To prevent something from happening
prevent
stop
avoid
1. 3a
  to stop a natural process from happening
  The drug acts by blocking the release of testosterone.
  Synonyms and related words
  To prevent something from happening
  prevent
  stop
  avoid
4
computingto 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.
Synonyms and related words
To use or program a computer
access
archive
back up

phrasal verbs

block in

block off

block out

block up

block

verb transitive

US /blɑk/

Word Forms

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.
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone or something from moving
hold back
intercept
obstruct
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from moving
  hold back
  intercept
  obstruct
2. 1b
  to use your body to stop someone from hitting something, or to stop a ball from going somewhere
  In blocking the linebacker, Mario sprained his shoulder.
  She expertly blocked all her opponent’s punches.
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in a game or sport
  blank
  block
  bobble
2
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.
Synonyms and related words
To prevent something from happening
prevent
stop
avert
1. 2a
  to stop a natural process from happening
  The drug acts by blocking the release of testosterone.
  Synonyms and related words
  To prevent something from happening
  prevent
  stop
  avert
3
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.
Synonyms and related words
To hide, or to hide something
hide
cover
obscure
4
computingto 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 center it on the page.
Synonyms and related words
To use or program a computer
access
archive
author

phrasal verbs

block in

block off

block out

block up

block ​‌‌‌

the blocks

block ​‌‌‌

the blocks

block ​‌‌

block

block up

block ​‌‌

block

block up

block

block

block

block