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block

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verb [transitive] American English pronunciation: block /blɑk/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyblock
he/she/itblocks
present participleblocking
past tenseblocked
past participleblocked
  1. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
    1. a.
      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.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
    2. b.
      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.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
  2. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
    1. a.
      to stop a natural process from happening

      The drug acts by blocking the release of testosterone.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
  3. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block
  4. 4
    computing to 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  blockThesaurus entry for this meaning of block

This is the American English definition of block. View British English definition of block.

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