block
(noun, verb)
past tense: blocked
LISTEN
Building blocks
A block is a toy for children, usually shaped as a cube.
- The kids are building a house with their blocks.
- Children can learn their ABCs when they play with blocks.
A block is also the length of one street in a neighborhood or town.
- There is a supermarket on my block.
- My sister lives three blocks away.
If you get in the way of something you block it.
- The security guard blocked the entrance.
- The defenseman blocked the goal.
A block is something that causes other things to stop moving.
- There is a road block on the highway and the police are stopping all the cars.
Common uses
Writer’s block occurs when a writer temporarily cannot proceed with writing.
Did you know?
The new kid on the block is a person who is new to a situation and doesn’t know how things work yet. For example: “My new boss said, ‘I’m the new kid on the block. Give me a chance to learn how the company operates.'”
In pop culture
If you grew up in the ’90s, perhaps you were a fan of New Kids on the Block. Enjoy their song, “Step by Step.”
There are other meanings of block.
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