Block
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance. A cuboid of wood, plastic or other material used as a base on which to cut something. A group of urban lots of property, several acres in extent, not crossed by public streets A group of buildings in a city or town, demarcated by streets. The distance from one street to another in a city that is built (approximately) to a grid pattern. The human head. A set of sheets (of paper) joined together at one end. A logical data storage unit containing one or more physical sectors (see cluster). A region of code in a program that acts as a single unit, such as a function or loop. A case with one or more sheaves/pulleys, used with ropes to increase or redirect force, for example, as part of the rigging of a sailing ship. A portion of a macromolecule, comprising many units, that has at least one feature not present in adjacent portions. Something that prevents something from passing (see blockage). An action to interfere with the movement of an opposing player or of the object of play (ball, puck). A shot played by holding the bat vertically in the path of the ball, so that it loses momentum and drops to the ground. A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter's court. A joined group of four (or in some cases nine) postage stamps, forming a roughly square shape.
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To fill (something) so that it is not possible to pass. To prevent (something or someone) from passing. To prevent (something from happening or someone from doing something). To impede an opponent in sports. To specify the positions and movements of the actors. To hit with a block. To play a block shot. To refuse to communicate with somebody by telephone, instant messaging, etc. To wait.
Example sentence: I love perfumes. Every morning when my girlfriend and I come down to the courtyard in our block of flats we're assailed by the most delicious scent - jasmine round a doorway. It almost makes me swoon.
Blocking
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To fill (something) so that it is not possible to pass.
Example sentence: If you are trying to favor the unions by having more rigid labor market and keeping wages very high, you could be blocking people from getting new jobs.