Webster's English Dictionary

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block

Cross references:
  1. hinder                
 
1. block \'bla:k\ n [ME blok, fr. MF bloc, fr. MD blok; akin to OHG bloh 
   bl] often attrib ock, MIr blog fragment 1: a compact usu. solid piece of 
   substantial material esp. when worked or a ltered from its natural state to 
   serve a particular purpose : as 1a: the piece of wood on which a person 
   condemned to be beheaded lays his n eck for execution 1b: a mold or form 
   upon which articles are shaped or displayed  1c: a hollow rectangular 
   building unit usu. of artifical material  1d: a lightweight usu. cubical 
   and solid wooden or plastic toy that is usu.  provided in sets permitting 
   building activities 1e: the casting that contains the cylinders of an 
   internal-combustion engin e 2a: BLOCKHEAD  slang  2b: HEAD  3a: OBSTACLE  
   3b: an obstruction of an opponent's play in sports; esp : a checkin g in 
   football by use of the checker's body 3c: interruption of normal 
   physiological function of a tissue or organ;  esp : HEART BLOCK 3d: an 
   instance or the result of psychological blockage or blocking  4: a wooden 
   or metal case enclosing one or more pulleys and having a hook,  eye, or 
   strap by which it may be attached 5: a platform from which property is sold 
   at auction; broadly : sal e at auction 6a: a quantity, number, or section 
   of things dealt with as a unit  6b1: a large building divided into separate 
   functional units  6b2: a line of row houses  6b3: a part of a building or 
   integrated group of buildings distinctive in s ome respect 6c1: a usu. 
   rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupi ed by or 
   intended for buildings 6c2: the distance along one of the sides of such a 
   block  6d: a length of railroad track of defined limits the use of which is 
   govern ed by block signals 7: a piece of material having on its surface a 
   hand-cut design from which i mpressions are to be printed
2. block vt 1a: to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction  
   archaic  1b: BLOCKADE  1c: to hinder the passage, progress, or 
   accomplishment of  1d: to interfere usu. legitimately with (as an opponent) 
   in various games  or sports 1e: to prevent normal functioning of  1f: to 
   prohibit conversion of (foreign-held funds) into foreign exchange;  also : 
   to limit the use to be made of (such funds) within the country 2: to mark 
   or indicate the outline or chief lines of  3: to shape on, with, or as if 
   with a block  4: to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at 
   the left or at  both left and right 5: to secure, support, or provide with 
   a block  : to block an opponent in sports  - block.er n