block*/*/

[blɒk] noun [C] I

1) a large building with a lot of different levels

an apartment/office block[/ex]

The whole block of flats was destroyed.[/ex]

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

a block of marble[/ex]

3) an amount of something that you think of as a unit

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

You can move blocks of text using the mouse.[/ex]

4) something that stops you from doing something or making progress

The issue of holiday pay was the major block in reaching an agreement.[/ex]

5) a short time when you are unable to think clearly or remember something

a mental block[/ex]

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

I was early, so I walked around the block a couple of times.[/ex]

7) American

the distance along a street, from the place where one street crosses it to the place where the next street crosses it

The school was only a few blocks from where she lived.[/ex]

•

See:

stumbling block

II

verb [T]

block */[blɒk]

1) to stop something from moving along or passing through something

A car was blocking the road.[/ex]

Something is blocking the flow of water through the pipe.[/ex]

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

A crowd of people blocked his way to the gate.[/ex]

3) to stop something from happening or succeeding

She accused him of blocking her promotion.[/ex]

The plan to build a new school was blocked by local residents.[/ex]

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

Don't stand in the doorway, you're blocking the light.[/ex]

•

- block sth off

- block sth out

- block sth up