English English Dictionary

A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane, faces; as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which to mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc.

The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded.

To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to prevent passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the way; -- used both of persons and things; -- often followed by up; as, to block up a road or harbor.

The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped.

To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat.

To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two boards at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood glued to each.

A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See Block system, below.

A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt.

A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high.

Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way.

A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to form one building; a row of houses or shops.

A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not.

A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the rigging of ships, and in tackles.

A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.

The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.

A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types.

See under Tin.

Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.

To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n.

An obstruction to passage.