noun
    
    plural blocks
    
    [count] :a solid piece of material (such as rock or wood) that has flat sides and is usually square or rectangular in shape
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] an area of land surrounded by four streets in a city
    
    
    
    
    
    b US :the length of one city block
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :a large building divided into separate units (such as apartments or shops)
    
    
    
    This sense of block is more common in British English than in U.S. English.
    
    
    
    [singular] :something that stops the progress or achievement of something
    
    
    
    [count] sports :an action or movement that stops or slows down an opponent
    
    
    
    
    
    [singular] :something that stops a person from thinking about certain things
    
    
    
    [count] a number of similar things that form a group
    
    
    
    
    
    an amount or section of something
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    chip off the old block
    
    
    
    knock someone's block off
    
    
    
    new kid on the block
    
    
    
    on the block
    
    or on the auction block
    
    for sale at an auction
    
    
    
    
    
    verb
    
    blocks; blocked; blocking
    
    [+ obj] to be placed in front of (something, such as a road or path) so that people or things cannot pass through
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to place something in front of (something, such as a road) so that people or things cannot go into the area
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] to stop (someone or something) from moving through or going by
    
    
    
    
    
    to stop (something) from getting through to someone or something
    
    
    
    
    
    to be in front of (something) so that it cannot be seen
    
    
    
    [+ obj] to not allow (something, such as progress or an action) to occur
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to be in the way of (something)
    
    
    
    sports :to stop the movement of (an opponent, a shot, etc.). [+ obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    block in
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    block in (someone or something) or block (someone or something) in :to put something in front of (someone or something) so that person or thing cannot leave
    
    
    
    block out
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    block out (something) or block (something) out
    
    to hide or cover something so that it cannot be seen, felt, or heard
    
    
    
    
    
    to force yourself not to think about (something)