Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Block
Block
(blŏk)
, Noun.
1.
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.Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,
And Christmas
And Christmas
blocks
are burning. Wither.
All her labor was but as a
Left in the quarry.
block
Left in the quarry.
Tennyson.
2.
The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded.
Noble heads which have been brought to the
block
. E. Everett.
3.
The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped.
Hence:
The pattern or shape of a hat.
He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next
block
. Shakespeare
4.
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.
5.
A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not.
The new city was laid out in rectangular
blocks
, each block
containing thirty building lots. Such an average block
, comprising 282 houses and covering nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford Street. Lond. Quart. Rev.
6.
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.
7.
(Falconry)
The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.
8.
Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; – also called
blockage
; as, a
; a block
in the way; a block
in an artery; a block
in a nerveblock
in a biochemical pathway. 9.
A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.
10.
(Print.)
A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high.
11.
A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt.
[Obs.]
What a
block
art thou ! Shakespeare
12.
A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See
Block system
, below. Block
(blŏk)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Blocked
(blŏkt)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blocking
.] 1.
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; to block
an entranceWith moles . . . would
block
the port. Rowe.
A city . . . besieged and
blocked
about. Milton.
2.
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.
3.
To shape on, or stamp with, a block;
as, to
. block
a hatTo block out
, to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out roughly; to lay out; to outline;
as, to
.block out
a planWebster 1828 Edition
Block
BLOCK
, n.1.
A heavy piece of timber or wood, usually with one plain surface;or it is rectangular, and rather thick than long.2.
Any mass of matter with an extended surface; as a block of marble, a piece rough from the quarry.3.
A massy body, solid and heavy; a mass of wood, iron, or other metal, with at least one plain surface, such as artificers use.4.
The wood on which criminals are beheaded.5.
Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; hindrance; obstacle.6.
A piece of wood in which a pulley runs; used also for the pulley, or the block itself and the sheaves, or wheels.7.
A blockhead; a stupid fellow.8.
Among cutters in wood, a form made of hard wood, on which they cut figures in relief with knives,chisels, &c.9.
In falconry, the perch whereon a bird of prey is kept.BLOCK
,Verb.
T.