block

UK: blɒk | US: blɑːk

Definition

  1. n. a solid piece of material with flat surfaces

  2. n. an obstacle or hindrance

  3. vt. to obstruct or prevent movement/action

Structure
bloc <solid mass>
Etymology

The word "block" traces back to Middle Dutch blok (log or stump) and Old French bloc (mass of wood), both meaning a solid, compact object. The -k ending is a phonetic adaptation in English. The core idea of "solidity" expanded metaphorically to mean obstruction (e.g., "blocking a path") or a unit of something (e.g., "city block").

Examples

  1. The child stacked wooden blocks to build a tower.

  2. A fallen tree blocked the road after the storm.

  3. She lives two blocks away from the school.

  4. The firewall blocks unauthorized access to the network.

  5. Writer’s block prevented him from finishing his novel.