Block Meaning
Block Definition & Usage
A solid, typically rectangular piece of material, often used as a building unit or obstruction.
Examples
- "She used a wooden block to prop open the door."
- "The builder stacked the blocks neatly in the yard."
- "They removed the heavy stone block to create an opening in the wall."
- "The kids were playing with blocks, building towers and castles."
- "The truck hit a large concrete block that had been left on the road."
To prevent or stop the movement or progress of something or someone.
Examples
- "The road was blocked by a fallen tree."
- "She blocked his attempt to get into the building."
- "The firewall blocked the unauthorized access to the system."
- "They were trying to block the flow of water into the basement."
- "The protestors blocked the entrance to the government office."
An obstacle or hindrance that restricts progress or access.
Examples
- "The new regulations were seen as a block to innovation."
- "His refusal to collaborate was a block to the project's success."
- "The main block in the negotiation was the issue of funding."
- "She faced a mental block when trying to solve the math problem."
- "There was a block of silence before anyone dared to speak."
A section of a street bounded by intersections, often used in reference to city layouts.
Examples
- "The restaurant is located on the next block from here."
- "You can catch the bus at the block across the street."
- "He lives two blocks away from the park."
- "The building spans an entire block, making it one of the largest in the city."
- "She took a walk around the block to get some fresh air."
Cultural Context
The word 'block' has roots in construction and physical barriers, but its meaning has expanded over time to include a variety of metaphorical uses. It is commonly used in modern cities to describe street sections and in computing to refer to restrictions or barriers.
The Blocked Road
Story
The Blocked Road
It was a cold morning when Sarah saw the traffic jam stretch all the way down the street. Her car had come to a halt at the first block, barely moving. She sighed and tapped the steering wheel, wishing for the road to clear up. "Another construction block," she muttered under her breath. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Mike, her colleague at the office. 'The presentation is blocked, Sarah. The server is down again.' She rolled her eyes, frustrated. The last thing she needed was another technical issue on top of the traffic. As she sat there, stuck in her car, she began thinking about how many 'blocks' had popped up in her life recently. There was the literal roadblock in front of her, the mental block at work, and of course, the internal block she had felt when trying to get her creative ideas flowing for the presentation. It was as if everything was conspired against her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the traffic began to move. Sarah drove a few blocks further and was relieved to see the office building looming ahead. As she parked, she saw Mike standing outside, looking frustrated. "What happened?" Sarah asked. "A block in the system again," Mike explained. "I think the server crashed when we tried to update the database. We're going to have to work around it." "There's always a block in the way, isn't there?" Sarah sighed. "First the road, then the work." "You know, sometimes the only way to get past the block is to push through it." As they headed inside together, Sarah couldn't help but agree. No matter how many blocks life threw in her way, she would keep moving forward.
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