block

/ˈbläk/

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

noun

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

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

  3. a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed

put her neck on the block

verb

  1. to make (something) unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction : obstruct

  2. to stop or hinder (someone or something) from moving through or going by

  3. to prevent (something, such as a process or action) from occurring

A rock slide blocked the road.

The ambulance was blocked by traffic.

hinder impede obstruct block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of. hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress. impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

biographical name

  1. Herbert Lawrence 1909—2001Herblock American editorial cartoonist