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Block - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Block : (noun)
1: a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular
sides); "the pyramids were built with large stone
blocks"
2: a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and
usually containing several buildings; "he lives in the
next block" [syn: city block]
3: a three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular
sides [syn: cube]
4: a number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit;
"he reserved a large block of seats"; "he held a large
block of the company's stock"
5: housing in a large building that is divided into separate
units; "there is a block of classrooms in the west wing"
6: (computer science) a sector or group of sectors that
function as the smallest data unit permitted; "since
blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms
`block' and `sector' are sometimes used interchangeably"
7: an inability to remember or think of something you normally
can do; often caused by emotional tension; "I knew his
name perfectly well but I had a temporary block" [syn: mental
block]
8: a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in
which a rope can run to change the direction or point of
application of a force applied to the rope [syn: pulley,
pulley-block]
9: a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts
of an engine; "the engine had to be replaced because the
block was cracked" [syn: engine block, cylinder block]
10: an obstruction in a pipe or tube; "we had to call a plumber
to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe" [syn: blockage,
closure, occlusion, stop, stoppage]
11: a platform from which an auctioneer sells; "they put their
paintings on the block" [syn: auction block]
12: (American football) the act of obstructing someone's path
with your body; "he threw a rolling block into the line
backer" [syn: blocking, interference]
(verb)
1: render unsuitable for passage; "block the way"; "barricade
the streets"; "stop the busy road" [syn: barricade, blockade,
stop, block off, block up, bar]
2: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His
brother blocked him at every turn" [syn: obstruct, blockade,
hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass]
3: stop from happening or developing; "Block his election";
"Halt the process" [syn: stop, halt, kibosh]
4: interfere with or prevent the reception of signals; "Jam the
Voice of America"; "block the signals emitted by this
station" [syn: jam]
5: run on a block system; "block trains"
6: interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia;
"block a nerve"; "block a muscle"
7: shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from
sight; "The thick curtain blocked the action on the
stage"; "The trees obstruct my view of the mountains"
[syn: obstruct]
8: stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block;
"block the book cover"
9: obstruct; "My nose is all stuffed"; "Her arteries are
blocked" [syn: stuff, lug, choke up] [ant: unstuff]
10: block passage through; "obstruct the path" [syn: obstruct,
obturate, impede, occlude, jam, close up]
[ant: free]
11: support, secure, or raise with a block; "block a plate for
printing"; "block the wheels of a car"
12: impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); "block an
attack" [syn: parry, deflect]
13: be unable to remember; "I'm drawing a blank"; "You are
blocking the name of your first wife!" [syn: forget, blank
out, draw a blank] [ant: remember]
14: shape by using a block; "Block a hat"; "block a garment"
15: shape into a block or blocks; "block the graphs so one can
see the results clearly"
16: prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); "Blocked funds";
"Freeze the assets of this hostile government" [syn: freeze,
immobilize, immobilise] [ant: unblock, unblock]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Block : \Block\, n.
1. In Australia, one of the large lots into which public
land, when opened to settlers, is divided by the
government surveyors.
2. (Cricket)
(a) The position of a player or bat when guarding the
wicket.
(b) A block hole.
(c) The popping crease. [R.]
Back blocks, Australian pastoral country which is remote
from the seacoast or from a river.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Block : \Block\, n. [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan.
blok, Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG.
bloch, biloh; bi by _ the same root as that of E. lock. Cf.
Block, v. t., Blockade, and see Lock.]
1. A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood,
stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or
approximately plane, faces; as, a block on which a butcher
chops his meat; a block by which to mount a horse;
children's playing blocks, etc.
Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke, And Christmas
blocks are burning. --Wither.
All her labor was but as a block Left in the quarry.
--Tennyson.
2. The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay
their necks when they are beheaded.
Noble heads which have been brought to the block.
--E. Everett.
3. The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped.
Hence: The pattern or shape of a hat.
He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it
ever changes with the next block. --Shak.
4. A large or long building divided into separate houses or
shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact
with each other so as to form one building; a row of
houses or shops.
5. A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets,
whether occupied by buildings or not.
The new city was laid out in rectangular blocks,
each block containing thirty building lots. Such an
average block, comprising 282 houses and covering
nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford Street.
--Lond. Quart.
Rev.
6. A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell
which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it
may be attached to an object. It is used to change the
direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can
not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more
such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion,
or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the
rigging of ships, and in tackles.
7. (Falconry) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.
8. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a
hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way.
9. A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.
10. (Print.) A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on
which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to
make it type high.
11. A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. [Obs.]
What a block art thou ! --Shak.
12. A section of a railroad where the block system is used.
See Block system, below.
A block of shares (Stock Exchange), a large number of
shares in a stock company, sold in a lump. --Bartlett.
Block printing.
(a) A mode of printing (common in China and Japan) from
engraved boards by means of a sheet of paper laid on
the linked surface and rubbed with a brush. --S. W.
Williams.
(b) A method of printing cotton cloth and paper hangings
with colors, by pressing them upon an engraved
surface coated with coloring matter.
Block system on railways, a system by which the track is
divided into sections of three or four miles, and trains
are so run by the guidance of electric signals that no
train enters a section or block before the preceding train
has left it.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Block : \Block\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blocked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blocking.] [Cf. F. bloquer, fr. bloc block. See Block,
n.]
1. To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to
prevent passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the
way; -- used both of persons and things; -- often followed
by up; as, to block up a road or harbor.
With moles . . . would block the port. --Rowe.
A city . . . besieged and blocked about. --Milton.
2. To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two
boards at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood
glued to each.
3. To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat.
To block out, to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out
roughly; to lay out; as, to block out a plan.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Block :
1. A unit of data or memory, often, but not
exclusively, on a magnetic disk or magnetic tape.
Compare record, sector.
2. To delay or sit idle while waiting for
something.
Compare busy-wait.
(2000-07-17)
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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Block : v. [common; from process scheduling terminology in OS theory] 1.
vi. To delay or sit idle while waiting for something. "We're blocking
until everyone gets here." Compare busy-wait. 2. `block on' vt. To
block, waiting for (something). "Lunch is blocked on Phil's arrival."
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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Example Usage of Block |
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thisissuccess: RT @DaBlock103: Friday Night Block Party within minutes! Gettin off the expressway now...a little late but ill make it up! www.103jamz.com |
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FrshvoicedLIFER: After the first listen to Gucci's album it was cool. Then I let it ride in the car...circled the Block at least 6 times. #BURR |
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LaK7: if other cultures can do it. we can do it, too. we have 2 road Block what society tells us what love is, n return 2 our foundation. |
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