been around the block

ˈbläk

noun

a compact usually solid piece of substantial material especially when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose blocks of cheese: such as

a block of ice

the piece of wood on which the neck of a person condemned to be beheaded is laid for execution

put her neck on the block

a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed

a wooden hat block

a hollow rectangular building unit usually of artificial material

a wall of concrete blocks

a lightweight usually cubical and solid wooden or plastic building toy that is usually provided in sets

children playing with blocks

the casting that contains the cylinders of an internal combustion engine

engine block

sports starting block a slow start out of the blocks

the first swimmer off the blocks

obstacle

putting a block on any future development

sports an obstruction of an opponent's playespecially, football: a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent by use of the body

a block by the right tackle

interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ)especially: heart block

The patient presented with a block.

psychology interruption or cessation especially of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression an emotional block compare writer's block

a mental block

slang head sense 1

threatened to knock his block off

a wooden or metal case enclosing one or more pulleys and having a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached

a piece of material (such as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed

wooden blocks used for printing books

a usually rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings

She lived on our block.

a large building divided into separate functional units

an apartment block

a platform from which property is sold at auction

went on the block and sold for nearly three million dollars

a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit a half-hour block of music a block of text

bought a large block of shares

bloc sense 2

popular among several voting blocks

noun

a compact usually solid piece of substantial material especially when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose blocks of cheese: such as

a block of ice

the piece of wood on which the neck of a person condemned to be beheaded is laid for execution

put her neck on the block

a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed

a wooden hat block

a hollow rectangular building unit usually of artificial material

a wall of concrete blocks

a lightweight usually cubical and solid wooden or plastic building toy that is usually provided in sets

children playing with blocks

the casting that contains the cylinders of an internal combustion engine

engine block

sports starting block a slow start out of the blocks

the first swimmer off the blocks

obstacle

putting a block on any future development

sports an obstruction of an opponent's playespecially, football: a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent by use of the body

a block by the right tackle

interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ)especially: heart block

The patient presented with a block.

psychology interruption or cessation especially of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression an emotional block compare writer's block

a mental block

slang head sense 1

threatened to knock his block off

a wooden or metal case enclosing one or more pulleys and having a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached

a piece of material (such as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed

wooden blocks used for printing books

a usually rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings

She lived on our block.

a large building divided into separate functional units

an apartment block

a platform from which property is sold at auction

went on the block and sold for nearly three million dollars

a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit a half-hour block of music a block of text

bought a large block of shares

bloc sense 2

popular among several voting blocks

verb

transitive verb

to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction

The road was blocked by a rock slide.

archaic blockade

… a city … besieged and blocked about …—John Milton

to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction senators trying to block passage of the bill

The ambulance was blocked by traffic.

to shut off from view

The building blocks our view of the ocean.

to interfere usually legitimately with (an opponent, an opponent's shot, etc.) in various games or sports blocked the shot with her hand

practice blocking our opponents

to prevent normal functioning or action of

block a nerve with novocaine

to restrict the exchange of (currency, checks, etc.)

to mark or indicate the outline or chief lines of

block out a design

to shape on, with, or as if with a block (see block entry 1 sense 1b)

block a hat

to secure, support, or provide with a block (see block entry 1 sense 1) block up the rear wheels

blocking a plate for printing

to work out (the principal positions and movements) for the performers (as of a play)also: to work out the players' positions and movements for (a scene or a play) —often used with out

block out a scene before the actors arrive on set

typesetting to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at the left or at both left and right

golf to hit (a ball or shot) inaccurately toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing : push

… you get excited, don't finish your backswing and block your next drive into the foliage.—Thomas Boswell

intransitive verb

sports to interfere usually legitimately with an opponent : to block an opponent

needs to practice blocking

verb

transitive verb

to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction

The road was blocked by a rock slide.

archaic blockade

… a city … besieged and blocked about …—John Milton

to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction senators trying to block passage of the bill

The ambulance was blocked by traffic.

to shut off from view

The building blocks our view of the ocean.

to interfere usually legitimately with (an opponent, an opponent's shot, etc.) in various games or sports blocked the shot with her hand

practice blocking our opponents

to prevent normal functioning or action of

block a nerve with novocaine

to restrict the exchange of (currency, checks, etc.)

to mark or indicate the outline or chief lines of

block out a design

to shape on, with, or as if with a block (see block entry 1 sense 1b)

block a hat

to secure, support, or provide with a block (see block entry 1 sense 1) block up the rear wheels

blocking a plate for printing

to work out (the principal positions and movements) for the performers (as of a play)also: to work out the players' positions and movements for (a scene or a play) —often used with out

block out a scene before the actors arrive on set

typesetting to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at the left or at both left and right

golf to hit (a ball or shot) inaccurately toward the right from a right-handed swing or toward the left from a left-handed swing : push

… you get excited, don't finish your backswing and block your next drive into the foliage.—Thomas Boswell

intransitive verb

sports to interfere usually legitimately with an opponent : to block an opponent

needs to practice blocking

Noun and Verb Middle English blok, from Middle French & Middle Dutch; Middle French bloc, from Middle Dutch blok; akin to Old High German bloh block

The first known use of block was in the 14th century

around1 of 2adverb

in circumference

a tree five feet around

in or along a curving path

on all sides

papers lying around

nearby

stick around a while

here and there in various places

travel around

to each in turn

pass the fruit around

from beginning to end

mild the year around

in or to an opposite direction or position

turn around

close to : approximately

costs around $20

around2 of 2preposition

on all sides of

were fields around the village

so as to encircle or enclose

people seated around the table

on or to another side of

voyage around Cape Horn

near to

lives around Chicago

here and there in or throughout

travel around the country

around1 of 2adverb

in circumference

a tree five feet around

in or along a curving path

on all sides

papers lying around

nearby

stick around a while

here and there in various places

travel around

to each in turn

pass the fruit around

from beginning to end

mild the year around

in or to an opposite direction or position

turn around

close to : approximately

costs around $20

around2 of 2preposition

on all sides of

were fields around the village

so as to encircle or enclose

people seated around the table

on or to another side of

voyage around Cape Horn

near to

lives around Chicago

here and there in or throughout

travel around the country

block1 of 2noun

a solid piece of material (as stone or wood) usually with one or more flat sides

building blocks

a hollow rectangular piece of material (as of glass or concrete) used for building

cinder block

a piece of wood on which condemned persons are beheaded

a mold or support on which something is shaped or displayed

the molded part that contains the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine

obstacle

the act of slowing down or stopping an opponent's play in sports

interruption of normal function of bodily processesalso: interruption especially of train of thought a mental block

a heart block

a wooden or metal case for one or more pulleys

a number of things forming a group or unit

a block of seats

a large building divided into separate units

a usually rectangular space enclosed by streets

the length of the side of such a block

three blocks south

a stand for something to be sold at auction

a hand-carved piece of material from which copies are to be printed

block2 of 2verb

to stop up or close off : obstruct

to slow down or stop the progress ofespecially: to interfere with an opponent (as in football)

to shut off from view

block the sun

to prevent normal functioning or action of

block a nerve with an anesthetic

to mark the main lines of

block out a sketch

to shape on, with, or as if with a block

to make (lines of writing or type) even at the left or at both left and right

to secure, support, or provide with a block