[block] n, often attrib [ME blok, fr. MF bloc, fr. MD blok; akin to OHG bloh block] (14c) 1: a compact usu. solid piece of substantial material esp. when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose: as a: the piece of wood on which the neck of a person condemned to be beheaded is laid for execution b: a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed c: a hollow rectangular building unit usu. of artificial material d: a lightweight usu. cubical and solid wooden or plastic building toy that is usu. provided in sets e: the casting that contains the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine
2. a: obstacle b: an obstruction of an opponent's play in sports; esp: a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent in football by use of the body c (1): interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ); esp: heart block (2): local anesthesia (as by injection) produced by interruption of the flow of impulses along a nerve d: interruption or cessation esp. of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression 3 slang: head 1 "threatened to knock his ~ off"
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 piece of material (as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed
6. a (1): a usu. rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings (2): the distance along one of the sides of such a block b (1): a large building divided into separate functional units (2): a line of row houses (3): a distinctive part of a building or integrated group of buildings c: a short section of railroad track in the block system 7: a platform from which property is sold at auction
8. a: a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit b: bloc
2. -- on the block : for sale
[2]block vt (1580) 1 a: to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction b archaic: blockade c: to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction d: to shut off from view "forest canopy ~ing the sun" e: to interfere usu. legitimately with (as an opponent) in various games or sports f: to prevent normal functioning of g: to restrict the exchange of (as currency or checks)
2: to mark or indicate the outline or chief lines of "~ out a design" "~ in a sketched figure"
3: to shape on, with, or as if with a block "~ a hat"
4: to secure, support, or provide with a block
5: to work out or chart the movements of (as stage performers)--often used with out
6: to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at the left or at both left and right ~ vi: to block an opponent in sports syn see hinder -- block.er n