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Definition: Block |
BlockNoun1. A solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides); "the pyramids were built with large stone blocks". 2. A rectangular area in a city surrounded by streets and usually containing several buildings; "he lives in the next block". 3. A three-dimensional shape with six square or rectangular sides. 4. A number or quantity of related things dealt with as a unit; "he reserved a large block of seats"; "he held a large block of the company's stock". 5. Housing in a large building that is divided into separate units; "there is a block of classrooms in the west wing". 6. (computer science) a sector or group of sectors that function as the smallest data unit permitted; "since blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms `block' and `sector' are sometimes used interchangeably". 7. An inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension; "I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block". 8. A simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope. 9. A metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine; "the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked". 10. : an obstruction in a pipe or tube; "we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe". 11. : a platform from which an auctioneer sells; "they put their paintings on the block". 12. : the act of blocking someone's path with your body (as in football); "he threw a rolling block into the line backer". Verb1. Render unsuitable for passage; "block the way"; "barricade the streets". 2. Hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn". 3. Stop from happening or developing; "Block his election"; "Halt the process". 4. Interfere with or prevent the reception of signals; "Jam the Voice of America"; "block the signals emitted by this station". 5. Run on a block system; "block trains". 6. Interrupt the normal function of by means of anesthesia; "block a nerve"; "block a muscle". 7. Shut out from view; "The thick curtain blocked the action on the stage". 8. Stamp or emboss a title or design on a book with a block; "block the book cover". 9. Obstruct, as of a passage; "My nose is all stuffed"; "Her arteries are blocked". 10. : block passage through; "obstruct the path". 11. : support, secure, or raise with a block; "block a plate for printing"; "block the wheels of a car". 12. : impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball), as in sports or fights; "block an attack". 13. : be unable to remember; "I'm drawing a blank"; "You are blocking the name of your first wife!". 14. : shape by using a block: "Block a hat"; "block a garment". 15. : shape into a block or blocks; "block the graphs so one can see the results clearly". 16. : prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); "Blocked funds"; "Freeze the assets of this hostile government". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "block" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
Etymology: Block \Block\, noun. [Old English blok; compare to French bloc (fr. OHG.), Dutch & Danish blok, Swedish & German block, Old High German bloch. There is also an Old High German bloch, biloh; bi by + the same root as that of English lock. Compare to Block, verb. t., Blockade, and see Lock.]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Computing | Block v. [common; from process scheduling terminology in OS theory] 1. vi. To delay or sit idle while waiting for something. "We're blocking until everyone gets here." Compare busy-wait. 2. `block on' vt. To block, waiting for (something). "Lunch is blocked on Phil's arrival.". Source: Jargon File. |
Aerospace | In computer operations, a group of machine words considered as a unit. (references) |
Census | A subdivision of a census tract (or, prior to 2000, a block numbering area), a block is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau tabulates 100-percent data. Many blocks correspond to individual city blocks bounded by streets, but blocks - especially in rural areas - may include many square miles and may have some boundaries that are not streets. The Census Bureau established blocks covering the entire nation for the first time in 1990. Previous censuses back to 1940 had blocks established only for part of the nation. Over 8 million blocks are identified for Census 2000. Related terms: 100-percent data, Census block, Census geography, Census tract,. (references) |
| See census block. (references) | |
Chemical Industry | The color is picked up on the --. This is taken to the fabric, and the colour is transferred from the -- to the fabric. Every colour requires a separate --. . Source: European Union. (references) |
Finance | The mortgage loan to the final customer, such as a purchaser of a condominium unit. Source: European Union. (references) |
| The smallest square or rectangular portion of a city or town surrounded by four streets. A block may be wholly or partially occupied by buildings or be vacant land. (references) | |
Food & Agriculture | A mechanical contrivance consisting of one or more grooved pulleys mounted in a casing or shell fitted with a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached. Source: European Union. (references) |
| Grooved sheave working in a frame or shell. Used to alter direction of a rope or chain, or to gain a mechanical advantage by reeving a purchase. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| A block of wood, often wedge-shaped, for stopping an object moving, e. g. a log from rolling, a wheel from turning. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| A case(shell)of metal or wood enclosing one or more pulley wheels and having a hook, eye, or strap whereby it may be attached to an object, e. g. a stump or a spar-tree, and used e. g. to change the direction of motion of the object, or when two or more pulley wheels are compounded, to change the rate of motion or exert increased force. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Literature | Block To block a Bill. In parliamentary language means to postpone or prevent the passage of a Bill by giving notice of opposition, and thus preventing its being taken after half-past twelve at night. "By blocking the Bill [he] denied to two million persons the right of having votes."- Contemporary Review, August, 1884, p. 171. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Math | (1) A number of items which are handled together for efficiency. (2) A sequence of don't care symbols. (references) |
Mining | A. A division of a mine, usually bounded by workings but sometimes by survey lines or other arbitrary limits. b. A short piece of timber placed between the mine roof and the cap of a timber set and directly over the cap support. A wedge driven between the roof and the timber holds the set in place. See also:blocking and wedging c. A pillar or mass of ore exposed by underground workings. See also:blocking out d. Portion of an orebody blocked out by drives, raises, or winzes, so that it is completely surrounded by passages and forms a rectangular panel. If its character, volume, and assay grade are thus established beyond reasonable doubt, it ranks as proved ore in the mine's assets e. The wedging of core or core fragments or the impaction of cuttings inside a bit or core barrel, which prevents further entry of core into the core barrel, thereby producing a condition wherein drilling must be discontinued and the core barrel pulled and emptied to forestall loss of core through grinding or the serious damage of the bit or core barrel. See also:core block; plug f. An obstruction in a borehole. (references) |
Public Administration | Instead of the type being carried on bars, it is on a -which is dropped into position on the machine. As a key is depressed the -- is turned until the required character is in position. . Source: European Union. (references) |
| A number of sheets of paper (as for writing or drawing) that are grouped together in a stack of varying thickness that are fastened at one end. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Sports & Leisure | A contraction. . . of the rotary muscles of the body which transmit the turning power generated in one portion of the body to another part. Also called blocking. Source: European Union. (references) |
| A defensive play by one or more players, close to the net, who attempt to intercept or divert a ball at the point where it crosses the net. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In telecommunication, the term block has the following meanings:1. A group of bits or digits that is transmitted as a unit and that may be encoded for error-control purposes.
2. A string of records, words, or characters, that for technical or logical purposes are treated as a unit.
Note 1: Blocks (a) are separated by interblock gaps, (b) are delimited by an end-of-block signal, and (c) may contain one or more records.
Note 2: A block is usually subjected to some type of block processing, such as multidimensional parity checking, associated with it.
3. In programming languages, a subdivision of a program that serves to group related statements, delimit routines, specify storage allocation, delineate the applicability of labels, or segment parts of the program for other purposes.
Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188
In the construction (building) industry, a block is a shaped piece of masonry.
In philately, a block is an attached group of postage stamps; see block (philately).
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Block."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In philately, a block is a group of postage stamps still attached to each other. Blocks are of interest not only because they are rarer than individual stamps, but they also preserve relative positions of stamps as they were originally printed, information that is crucial to understanding how the stamps were produced.Blocks of stamps from the edges of the original sheet or pane often include sections of the sheet's margin, which may have a wide variety of information. Plate blocks, for instance, include the part of the margin where the serial numbers of the plates are found, while arrow blocks preserve the guide lines used by line up the sheets for perforation or other production steps.
Ironically, although blocks of rare stamps are highly valued, a block's price may be so high that no buyers can be found, leaving the owner with the agonizing prospect of breaking up the block, so as to be able to sell the stamps individually. In some cases, a dealer will publicize plans to break up a famous block, in the hopes of that someone will come forward to save the block from destruction.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Block (philately)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In the periodic table, the areas known as blocks are named after atomic orbitals.
Note: .
Names of periodic table blocks:
Some blocks contain several periodic table groups (eg the s-block contains groups 1 and 2); others correspond to chemical series.
- s-block
- p-block
- d-block
- f-block
- g-block
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Periodic table block."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
| BLE | English | Block Length Error | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: BlockSynonyms: auction block (n), blockage (n), blocking (n), city block (n), closure (n), cube (n), cylinder block (n), engine block (n), interference (n), mental block (n), occlusion (n), pulley (n), pulley-block (n), stop (n), stoppage (n), bar (v), barricade (v), blank out (v), block off (v), block up (v), blockade (v), choke up (v), close up (v), deflect (v), draw a blank (v), embarrass (v), forget (v), freeze (v), halt (v), hinder (v), immobilise (v), immobilize (v), impede (v), jam (v), kibosh (v), lug (v), obstruct (v), obturate (v), occlude (v), parry (v), stuff (v), stymie (v), stymy (v). (additional references) |
| Synonyms by domain: blockading (medicine), chock-a-block (food & agriculture, mechanical engineering), step-in (geography, mining). |
| Antonyms: free (v), remember (v), unblock (v), unstuff (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Counteraction | Verb: counteract; run counter, clash, cross; interfere with, conflict with; contravene; jostle; go against, run against, beat against, militate against; stultify; antagonize, block, oppose; traverse; withstand; (resist); hinder; repress; (restrain); react; (recoil). |
Density | Solid body, mass, block, knot, lump; concretion, concrete, conglomerate; cake, clot, stone, curd, coagulum; bone, gristle, cartilage; casein, crassamentum; legumin. |
Fool | Oaf, lout, loon, lown, dullard, doodle, calf, colt, buzzard, block, put, stick, stock, numps, tony. |
Hardness | Stone, pebble, flint, marble, rock, fossil, crag, crystal, quartz, granite, adamant; bone, cartilage; hardware; heart of oak, block, board, deal board; iron, steel; cast iron, decarbonized iron, wrought iron; nail; brick, concrete; cement. |
Hindrance | Obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock; block, block up; choke off; belay, barricade; block the way, bar the way, stop the way; forelay; dam up; (close); put on the brake; Noun: scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel; put a stop to; traverse, contravene; interrupt, intercept; oppose; hedge in, hedge round; cut off; inerclude. |
Beaver dam; trocha; barricade; (defense); wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne; bulkhead, block, buffer; stopper; boom, dam, weir, burrock. | |
Scourge | Scaffold; block, ax, guillotine; stake; cross; gallows, gibbet, tree, drop, noose, rope, halter, bowstring; death chair, electric chair; gas chamber; lethal injection; firing squad; mecate. |
Size | Giant, Brobdingnagian, Antaeus, Goliath, Gog and Magog, Gargantua, monster, mammoth, Cyclops; cachalot, whale, porpoise, behemoth, leviathan, elephant, hippopotamus; colossus; tun, cord, lump, bulk, block, loaf, mass, swad, clod, nugget, bushel, thumper, whooper, spanker, strapper; "Triton among the minnows". |
Support | Noun: support, ground, foundation, base, basis; terra firma; bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib; point d'appui, gr/pou sto/gr, purchase footing, hold, locus standi; landing place, landing stage; stage, platform; block; rest, resting place; groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention; floor; (basement). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | If we all go for the blonde and block each other, not a single one of us is going to get her. So then we go for her friends, but they will all give us the cold shoulder because no on likes to be second choice (A Beautiful Mind; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman) Block hats (Singin' in the Rain; writing credit: Betty Comden and Adolph Green.) Can we park a block away from school (The Princess Diaries; writing credit: Gina Wendkos) I wanted to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill (Full Metal Jacket; writing credit: Gustav Hasford, Michael Herr, Stanley Kubrick) You destroyed half a city block! (Rush Hour; writing credit: Jim Kouf) | |
Lyrics | Up the block, while everyone's sleep, sleep, sleep (Are You That Somebody; performing artist: Aaliyah) I can make the final block; (Making Love Out Of Nothing At All; performing artist: Air Supply) And boy with the block since around 94 boy (If I Could Go; performing artist: Angie Martinez) Ax the peoples on my block, I'm as real as can be (No Diggity; performing artist: Blackstreet) Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the halls ("The Times They Are A-Changin'"; performing artist: Bob Dylan) | |
Tongue Twisters | A bloke's bike back brake block broke. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | A Piece of the Block (1972) The Block (1964) Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) Block Busters (1944) Chip Off the Old Block (1944) | |
Song Titles | Jenny From The Block (performing artist: Jennifer Lopez) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References | |||
Books | |||
Periodicals |
| ||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
| ||
High Tech |
| ||
Consumer Goods |
| ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | A white female patient receives a lateral mammogram treatment. She is lying on her left side with the left breast compressed and she is holding her right breast out of the way so as to not block the x-ray. Note the older methods of the diagnostic procedure. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |  | There is a butcher block cutting board on a white tablecloth. On the table are peapods, purple cabbage, cherry tomatoes, watercress, carrots, cauliflower and radishes. On the cutting board is a red pepper and an orange paring knife. In front of the board is a grey and white plaid napkin. See also AV-3905. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |
 | During feeding, the flea draws viable Y. pestis organisms into its esophagus, which multiply and block the proventriculus just in front of the stomach, later forcing the flea to regurgitate infected blood unto the host when it tries to swallow. Credit: CDC. |  | Estivo-autumnal malaria, caused by P. falciparum, is responsible for most of the deaths from malaria. The organisms block the blood vessels of the brain. P. falciparum rings have delicate cytoplasm and 1 or 2 small chromatin dots. Credit: CDC. |
 | Block Tunnel with Missile Prototype. Credit: NASA. |  | 3-D image from NOAA Exclusive Economic Zone Mapping Project Fault block structures on the Oregon continental slope Image is 30 nautical miles by approximately 50 nautical miles. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | A new type of hydrophone block for Radio Acoustic Ranging On the GUIDE. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | An "Old English Block House, San Juan Island". In: "Puget Sound and Western Washington Cities-Towns Scenery", by Robert A. Reid, Robert A. Reid Publisher, Seattle, 1912. P. 15. Credit: America's Coastlines. |
 | A view of the power block as the net is coming on board. Credit: Fisheries. |  | Power block operator monitors the net as it comes aboard. If need be, he will stop the net in case of a problem. Credit: Fisheries. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Block" by Gabor Kovacs Commentary: "This is a block building where i live." | "Block at Sarajevo" by Karoly Feher Commentary: "A former block close to the Sarajevo international airfield." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption | Play | Caption |
 | Piano playing block chords for a single-note guitar solo. | | Folk style melody played in a hymn-like manner using block chords on piano. |
| Hit on a wood block. | ||
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Auguste Rodin | I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don't need. [when asked how he managed to make his remarkable statues.] |
Bill Hicks | Cause you know, if you play New Kids on the Block albums backwards, they sound better. |
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and ... when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. |
| I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate. | |
Joseph Addison | What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to an human soul. |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt | I hope your committee will not permit doubts as to constitutionality, however reasonable, to block the suggested legislation. |
Thomas Carlyle | The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | In vain we chisel as best we can, the mysterious block of which our life is made, the black vein of destiny reappears continually |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | The preacher sat humbly down on the chopping block beside the door |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | A patient has a heart block. (references) | |
The buildup narrows the arteries and can slow or block the flow of blood. (references) | ||
They can also block the openings of the eustachian tubes, trapping air and fluid. (references) | ||
Business | The company may still, however, fall under the block exemption. (references) | |
In 2002, The EU is also to reconsider its Block Exemption Policy. (references) | ||
In the EU, new cars are sold under the so-called Block Exemption. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | China | The authorities block access to Web sites they find offensive. (references) |
Kuwait | Each Internet service provider determines what sites to block, within the framework of censorship norms. (references) | |
Ukraine | In October the Kiev Municipal Arbitration court denied RK's request to block the sale of the radio station's frequency. (references) | |
Economic History | Spain | This procedure does not block any investment. (references) |
Kyrgyzstan | The economy of Kyrgyzstan was severely affected by the collapse of the Soviet trading block. (references) | |
Botswana | Shortages of foreign exchange that would lead banks to block transactions is highly unlikely. (references) | |
Human Rights | Bhutan | Magistrates, each with responsibility for a block of villages, can review their decisions. (references) |
Tuvalu | While no known barriers block their establishment, there are no local nongovernmental organizations concerned with human rights. (references) | |
Cuba | The Interior Ministry employed an intricate system of informants and block committees (the CDR's) to monitor and control public opinion. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Malaysia | In January Orang Asli in the state of Pahang attempted to block logging trucks from entering their land. (references) |
Minorities | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstani Chechens in the village of Krasnaya Polyanka reported that local officials block applications for passports and local identification of their Kazakhstani-born children, especially young men. (references) |
Political Economy | CHINA | In effect, this allows a local official to block license approval without offering an explicit reason. (references) |
Political Rights | Zambia | This act was largely a symbolic gesture, as the President retained sufficient support to block a two-thirds impeachment vote. (references) |
Iran | However, the Supreme Leader and other conservatives within the Government used constitutional provisions to block much of the early reform legislation passed by the Majles. (references) | |
Hong Kong | Additionally, the Government has adopted a very broad definition of "government policy" in order to block private member bills, and the President of the Legislative Council has upheld the Government's position. (references) | |
Trade | Burma | Block C, Theingyizay, Pabedan P.O.. (references) |
China | Prohibitively high tariffs, in combination with taxes and other import restrictions, block many imports. (references) | |
Jamaica | The Jamaica Bureau of Standards has in the past taken steps to block the sale of goods which had been improperly labeled. (references) | |
Travel | Sri Lanka | Yala National Park was closed following several terrorist incidents in July 1996, but block one of the Park has since re-opened. (references) |
Women | Pakistan | Police tend to investigate the cases poorly, and may not inform women of the need for a medical exam or may stall or block women's attempts to obtain one. (references) |
Worker Rights | Iran | These councils also function as instruments of government control, although they frequently have been able to block layoffs and dismissals. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | STORY, n. A narrative, commonly untrue. The truth of the stories here following has, however, not been successfully impeached. One evening Mr. Rudolph Block, of New York, found himself seated at dinner alongside Mr. Percival Pollard, the distinguished critic. "Mr. Pollard," said he, "my book, The Biography of a Dead Cow, is published anonymously, but you can hardly be ignorant of its authorship. Yet in reviewing it you speak of it as the work of the Idiot of the Century. Do you think that fair criticism?" "I am very sorry, sir," replied the critic, amiably, "but it did not occur to me that you really might not wish the public to know who wrote it." Mr. W.C. Morrow, who used to live in San Jose, California, was addicted to writing ghost stories which made the reader feel as if a stream of lizards, fresh from the ice, were streaking it up his back and hiding in his hair. San Jose was at that time believed to be haunted by the visible spirit of a noted bandit named Vasquez, who had been hanged there. The town was not very well lighted, and it is putting it mildly to say that San Jose was reluctant to be out o' nights. One particularly dark night two gentlemen were abroad in the loneliest spot within the city limits, talking loudly to keep up their courage, when they came upon Mr. J.J. Owen, a well-known journalist. "Why, Owen," said one, "what brings you here on such a night as this? You told me that this is one of Vasquez' favorite haunts! And you are a believer. Aren't you afraid to be out?" "My dear fellow," the journalist replied with a drear autumnal cadence in his speech, like the moan of a leaf-laden wind, "I am afraid to be in. I have one of Will Morrow's stories in my pocket and I don't dare to go where there is light enough to read it." Rear-Admiral Schley and Representative Charles F. Joy were standing near the Peace Monument, in Washington, discussing the question, Is success a failure? Mr. Joy suddenly broke off in the middle of an eloquent sentence, exclaiming: "Hello! I've heard that band before. Santlemann's, I think." "I don't hear any band," said Schley. "Come to think, I don't either," said Joy; "but I see General Miles coming down the avenue, and that pageant always affects me in the same way as a brass band. One has to scrutinize one's impressions pretty closely, or one will mistake their origin." While the Admiral was digesting this hasty meal of philosophy General Miles passed in review, a spectacle of impressive dignity. When the tail of the seeming procession had passed and the two observers had recovered from the transient blindness caused by its effulgence -- "He seems to be enjoying himself," said the Admiral. "There is nothing," assented Joy, thoughtfully, "that he enjoys one-half so well." The illustrious statesman, Champ Clark, once lived about a mile from the village of Jebigue, in Missouri. One day he rode into town on a favorite mule, and, hitching the beast on the sunny side of a street, in front of a saloon, he went inside in his character of teetotaler, to apprise the barkeeper that wine is a mocker. It was a dreadfully hot day. Pretty soon a neighbor came in and seeing Clark, said: "Champ, it is not right to leave that mule out there in the sun. He'll roast, sure! -- he was smoking as I passed him." "O, he's all right," said Clark, lightly; "he's an inveterate smoker." The neighbor took a lemonade, but shook his head and repeated that it was not right. He was a conspirator. There had been a fire the night before: a stable just around the corner had burned and a number of horses had put on their immortality, among them a young colt, which was roasted to a rich nut-brown. Some of the boys had turned Mr. Clark's mule loose and substituted the mortal part of the colt. Presently another man entered the saloon. "For mercy's sake!" he said, taking it with sugar, "do remove that mule, barkeeper: it smells." "Yes," interposed Clark, "that animal has the best nose in Missouri. But if he doesn't mind, you shouldn't." In the course of human events Mr. Clark went out, and there, apparently, lay the incinerated and shrunken remains of his charger. The boys idd not have any fun out of Mr. Clarke, who looked at the body and, with the non-committal expression to which he owes so much of his political preferment, went away. But walking home late that night he saw his mule standing silent and solemn by the wayside in the misty moonlight. Mentioning the name of Helen Blazes with uncommon emphasis, Mr. Clark took the back track as hard as ever he could hook it, and passed the night in town. General H.H. Wotherspoon, president of the Army War College, has a pet rib-nosed baboon, an animal of uncommon intelligence but imperfectly beautiful. Returning to his apartment one evening, the General was surprised and pained to find Adam (for so the creature is named, the general being a Darwinian) sitting up for him and wearing his master's best uniform coat, epaulettes and all. "You confounded remote ancestor!" thundered the great strategist, "what do you mean by being out of bed after naps? -- and with my coat on!" Adam rose and with a reproachful look got down on all fours in the manner of his kind and, scuffling across the room to a table, returned with a visiting-card: General Barry had called and, judging by an empty champagne bottle and several cigar-stumps, had been hospitably entertained while waiting. The general apologized to his faithful progenitor and retired. The next day he met General Barry, who said: "Spoon, old man, when leaving you last evening I forgot to ask you about those excellent cigars. Where did you get them?" General Wotherspoon did not deign to reply, but walked away. "Pardon me, please," said Barry, moving after him; "I was joking of course. Why, I knew it was not you before I had been in the room fifteen minutes." |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Prince Albert of Monaco | Yeah. As I said, it's a running start, but the time cell is probably maybe eight feet away from the actual block where you start off from. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | Accordingly, last night I signed an executive order that will block the assets in the United States of terrorist organizations that threaten to disrupt the peace process. |
George W. Bush | 2001-2005 | Our Navy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Block" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 84.09% of the time. "Block" is used about 4,206 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 84.09% | 3,536 | 2,748 |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 14.06% | 591 | 10,755 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 1.66% | 70 | 39,981 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.17% | 7 | 133,076 |
| Unclassified Items | 0.02% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 4,206 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "block" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Block | Last name | 7,000 | 1,756 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
| Country | Name |
| USA | Block Drug Company, Inc. |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "block": a block in the traffic ♦ A block of shares ♦ a chip of the old block ♦ A chip off the old block ♦ added block ♦ aircraft block hours ♦ anchor block ♦ anvil block ♦ apartment block ♦ apartments block ♦ atrioventricular block ♦ auction block ♦ automatic block system ♦ automatic block with axle counters ♦ Autonomic Nerve Block ♦ bad block ♦ ball bearing plummer block ♦ be sent to the block ♦ becket block ♦ bee block ♦ Belgian block ♦ biting block ♦ blank block ♦ block anaesthesia ♦ block and pulley ♦ block and tackle ♦ block anesthesia ♦ block bond ♦ Block book ♦ block booking ♦ block buster ♦ block calendar ♦ block capital ♦ block capitals ♦ block chain ♦ block copolymer ♦ block diagram ♦ block Diagram Compiler ♦ block field ♦ block flying hours ♦ block grant ♦ block graphics ♦ block header ♦ block hours ♦ block house ♦ block in ♦ block Island ♦ block letter ♦ block letters ♦ block of buildings ♦ block of flats ♦ block of houses ♦ block of ice ♦ block of metal ♦ block of parameters ♦ block of service flats ♦ block of wood ♦ block off ♦ block on admissions ♦ block operation ♦ block or day release ♦ block or day release courses ♦ block out ♦ block plane ♦ block printing ♦ block proving ♦ block rake ♦ block recalculation ♦ block Redundancy Check ♦ block reek ♦ block sea ♦ Block signal ♦ block sort ♦ block Started by Symbol ♦ block structured ♦ block system ♦ block the access ♦ block the traffic ♦ block time ♦ block tin ♦ block trade ♦ block train ♦ block transfer ♦ block transfer computations ♦ block up ♦ block vote ♦ boot block ♦ brake block ♦ briar root block ♦ building block ♦ building block principle ♦ bullock block ♦ Bundle-Branch Block ♦ burner block ♦ butcher block ♦ cache block ♦ calendar block ♦ carved out of a block of marble ♦ Cat block ♦ caudal block ♦ Cautionary block. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "block": block-acknowledged, block-booking, block-bookings, block-buster, block-busters, block-busting, block-buying, block-chords, block-cut, block-end, block-faulted, block-faulting, block-grant, block-house, block-houses, block-like, block-line, block-maker, block-making, block-mounted, block-off, block-out, block-release, block-section, block-shaped, block-shifting, block-size, block-sorting, block-structured, block-the, block-these, block-to-block, block-to-block time, block-vote, block-voter, block-wide. | |
Ending with "block": apartment-block, building-block, butcher-block, choc-a-block, d-block, office-block, road-block, wood-block. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
sun block | 4,256 | quilt block | 268 |
h r block | 2,727 | block jts | 257 |
block island | 1,639 | block spam | 253 |
glass block | 1,598 | block retaining wall | 249 |
block | 1,224 | block d | 235 |
new kid on the block | 998 | building block | 229 |
block breaker | 726 | block island hotel | 222 |
jenny from the block | 687 | block party | 195 |
block island ri | 494 | patio block | 181 |
butcher block | 453 | cinder block | 179 |
concrete block | 428 | auto cad block | 178 |
maple block | 390 | call block | 162 |
alphabet block | 388 | glass block window | 159 |
the block at orange | 368 | block messenger | 152 |
pop up block | 362 | block jt | 151 |
block pop ups | 356 | terminal block | 150 |
block island ferry | 351 | block checker msn | 142 |
the block | 283 | block caller id | 141 |
block buster | 275 | block island race week | 137 |
block popup | 271 | small block chevy | 134 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "block"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | blok (pad). (various references) | |
Albanian | bllok (bloc, book, complex, lump, pad, tablet, unit). (various references) | |
Arabic | حاجز (arresting, bail, bar, barricade, barrier, dike, divider, division, dyke, fence, jamming, levee, obstacle, parapet, partition, rail, screen, stem, traverse), شخص أحمق (birdbrained, bonehead, half wit, nitwit, nut, sap, silly), رسم (charge, daub, depict, depiction, describe, description, design, draft, draught, draw, drawing, etch, etching, exhibit, figure to oneself, formalize, image, impost, lay, lay out, limn, line, mark out, pattern, pencil, picture, plotter, portray, portrayal, protract, scrawl, sketch, tableau, trace, trace over, weave), أحبط (anticipate, balk, check, damp, defeat, disappoint, discomfit, disconcert, foil, forestall, frustrate, nullify, ruin, scotch, scuttle, torpedo), إعترض سبيل, جمد (congeal, freeze, frost, immobilize, make frozen, set, solidify), خدر العصب, عاق (baffle, balk, cramp, delay, derange, detain, deter, dirty, discourage, disloyal, disturb, embarrass, encumber, estop, handicap, hinder, hobble, hurt, impede, impious, interrupt, penalize, preclude, prevent, retard, set back, shackle, stifle, thankless, thwart, tie up, trammel, trap, undutiful, ungrateful, unthankful), بكرة لرفع الأثقال, سد (bar, barrage, bung, clog, close, close up, congest, dam, dike, dyke, embankment, fill, floodgate, foul, lock, mure, obturate, obturation, occlude, occlusion, pack, plug, seal, shut, stem, stop, stop up, stuff, tamp, wad, weir), كليشية (cliche, engraving, plate), حي (active, alive, animate, animated, district, existent, graphic, graphical, |
