Block

block
noun1a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides); "the pyramids were built with large stone blocks"2a rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings; "he lives in the next block"3a three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides4a 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"5housing 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"7an 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"8a 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]9a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine; "the engine had to be replaced because the block was *****ed"[syn: engine block]10an obstruction in a pipe or tube; "we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe"[syn: blockage]11a platform from which an auctioneer sells; "they put their paintings on the block"[syn: auction block]12the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements[syn: blocking]
verb1render unsuitable for passage; "block the way"; "barricade the streets"; "stop the busy road"[syn: barricade]2hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn"[syn: obstruct]3stop from happening or developing; "Block his election"; "Halt the process"[syn: stop]4interfere with or prevent the reception of signals; "Jam the Voice of America"; "block the signals emitted by this station"[syn: jam]5run on a block system; "block trains"6interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia; "block a nerve"; "block a muscle"7shut 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]8stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block; "block the book cover"9obstruct; "My nose is all stuffed"; "Her arteries are blocked"[syn: stuff][ant: loosen up]10block passage through; "obstruct the path"[syn: obstruct][ant: disengage]11support, secure, or raise with a block; "block a plate for printing"; "block the wheels of a car"12impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); "block an attack"[syn: parry]13be unable to remember; "I'm drawing a blank"; "You are blocking the name of your first wife!"[syn: forget][ant: call back]14shape by using a block; "Block a hat"; "block a garment"15shape into a block or blocks; "block the graphs so one can see the results clearly"16prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); "Blocked funds"; "Freeze the assets of this hostile government"[syn: freeze][ant: free]