block
block [block blocks blocked blocking] noun, verb BrE [blɒk] NAmE [blɑːk]
noun 
SOLID MATERIAL
1. countable a large piece of a solid material that is square in shape and usually has flat sides
•a block of ice/concrete/stone
•a chopping block (= for cutting food on)
see also ↑breeze block, ↑building block, ↑cinder block
BUILDING
2. countable (BrE)a tall building that contains flats or offices; buildings that form part of a school, hospital, etc. which are used for a particular purpose
•a tower block
•a block of flats
•an office block
•the university's science block
STREETS
3. countable a group of buildings with streets on all sides
• She took the dog for a walk around the block.
4. countable (NAmE)the length of one side of a piece of land or group of buildings, from the place where one street crosses it to the next
• His apartment is three blocks away from the police station.
AREA OF LAND
5. countable (especially NAmE)a large area of land
6. countable (AustralE)an area of land for building a house on
AMOUNT
7. countable a quantity of sth or an amount of time that is considered as a single unit
•a block of shares
•a block of text in a document
• (BrE) The theatre gives discounts for block bookings (= a large number of tickets bought at the same time).
•The three-hour class is divided into four blocks of 45 minutes each.
THAT STOPS PROGRESS
8. countable, usually singular something that makes movement or progress difficult or impossible
Syn: ↑obstacle
• Lack of training acts as a block to progress in a career.
see also ↑roadblock, ↑stumbling block, ↑writer's block
IN SPORT
9. countable a movement that stops another player from going forward
10. the blocksplural = ↑starting blocks
FOR PUNISHMENT
11. the blocksingular (in the past) the piece of wood on which a person's head was cut off as a punishment
more at a chip off the old block at ↑chip n., I'll knock your block/head off at ↑knock v., a new kid on the block at ↑new
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin.
Thesaurus:
block noun C
•a wall made from blocks of stone
piece • • lump • • slab •
a block/piece/lump/slab of ice
a block/piece/lump of wood
a block/piece/slab of stone/marble
Synonyms:
building
property • premises • complex • structure • block
These are all words for a structure such as a house, office block or factory that has a roof and four walls
building • a structure such as a house, office block or factory that has a roof and four walls
property • a building or buildings and the surrounding land; land and buildings: ▪ We have a buyer who would like to view the property. ◇ ▪ The price of property has risen enormously.
This word is often used when talking about buying/selling houses or other buildings and land.
premises • [pl.] the building or buildings and surrounding land that a business owns or uses: ▪ The company is looking for larger premises.
complex • a group of buildings of a similar type together in one place: ▪ a leisure complex
structure • a thing that is made of several parts, especially a building: ▪ The pier is a wooden structure.
block • (BrE) a tall building that contains flats or offices; a building that forms part of a school, hospital, etc. and is used for a particular purpose: ▪ a block of flats ◇ ▪ the school's science block
a(n) commercial/industrial/residential building/property/premises/complex/block
an apartment building/complex/block
a/the school building/premises
to build a(n) property/complex/structure/block
to put up a building/property/structure/block
to demolish/pull down a(n) building/property/complex/structure/block
Example Bank:
•I suddenly had a mental block and couldn't remember his name.
•I was aiming to be first out of the starting blocks.
•I'm going for a quick walk round the block.
•I'm not putting my head on the chopping block for you.
•People were queueing round the block to get in.
•She lives in a modern apartment block.
•The author denies that she is experiencing writer's block.
•The hotel occupies an entire block.
•The issue has been a major stumbling block in trade negotiations.
•The prisoners had been transferred to a different cell block.
•They live in the next block.
•They walked a few blocks down the street.
•We're about four blocks from my house.
•It was an old-fashioned kitchen with a range, a dresser, a scrubbed wooden table and a butcher's chopping block.
•Single words are the building blocks of language.
•The wall was made from massive blocks of stone.
•an apartment block
•the school's science block
Idioms: ↑go on the block ▪ ↑have been around the block ▪ ↑put your head on the block
Derived: ↑block somebody in ▪ ↑block something in ▪ ↑block something off ▪ ↑block something out ▪ ↑block something up
verb
1. ~ sth to stop sth from moving or flowing through a pipe, a passage, a road, etc. by putting sth in it or across it
• After today's heavy snow, many roads are still blocked.
•a blocked sink
2. ~ the/sb's way, exit, view, etc. to stop sb from going somewhere or seeing sth by standing in front of them or in their way
• One of the guards moved to block her path.
• An ugly new building blocked the view from the window.
•His way was blocked by two large bouncers.
3. ~ sth to prevent sth from happening, developing or making progress
• The proposed merger has been blocked by the government.
4. ~ sth to stop a ball, blow, etc. from reaching somewhere by moving in front of it
• His shot was blocked by the goalie.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin.
Thesaurus:
block verb
1. T
•If you pour fat down the sink, you will block the drain.
clog • • choke • • block sth up • • stop • • plug • • dam • • seal •
Opp: unblock
block/clog/choke/stop/plug/dam/seal sth up
block/clog/choke/stop/seal sth with sth
block/plug/block up/seal a hole
a road is blocked/clogged/choked (with sth)
2. T
•A large building blocked the view.
be/get in sb's/the way • • cut sth off • • block sth off • • bar • • barricade • • seal • |formal obstruct •
block/bar/obstruct an entrance
block/bar sb's progress/exit
block/block off/barricade a road
3. T
•He accused them of trying to block the agreement.
interfere with sth • • hamper • • hinder • • hold sb/sth back • • disrupt • • hold sb/sth up • • delay • • stall • |formal inhibit • • obstruct • • retard •
block/interfere with/hamper/hinder/hold back/hold up/delay/inhibit/obstruct/retard progress
block/interfere with/hamper/hinder/hold up/delay/inhibit/obstruct/retard development
block/interfere with/hinder/delay/stall/inhibit/obstruct/retard a process
Block or interfere with sth? People usually block things such as plans or efforts deliberately.Things usually interfere with sth without anyone particularly intending it.
Example Bank:
•Black clouds had completely blocked out the sun.
•Don't block up the corridor with all these boxes.
•One of the men moved to block their path.
•The exit was blocked with beer crates.
•The group has moved to block the government's proposals.
•The new rules would effectively block protesters' attempts to assert their rights.
•The old route is completely blocked off.
•A court ruling blocked the plans to develop the area.
•A large delivery van was almost blocking the narrow street.
•After today's heavy snow, many roads are still blocked.
•Fat that is poured down the sink will block the drain.
•He accused the French of trying to block the agreement.
•He found that the pipe was partially blocked with leaves.
•She had her back to the door, blocking his exit.
•Terry's shot was blocked by the goalie.
•The local mayor is seeking to block the dumping of waste in the area.
•We learned some basic punching and blocking techniques.
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