blok: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “blok” mean?
A solid, often rectangular mass or group of material.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A solid, often rectangular mass or group of material; a large building divided into separate units; a section of a city bounded by streets.
A quantity, group, or section of things regarded as a unit (e.g., a block of text, a block of time); a mental or emotional obstruction; in computing, a unit of data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'block' can refer to a building containing flats (apartments) or a child's toy cube. In US English, 'block' more commonly refers to a city street section. 'Block of flats' (UK) vs. 'apartment building' (US).
Connotations
Generally neutral for physical objects. Can have negative connotation when referring to obstacles ('writer's block').
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, with slight contextual preference differences as above.
Grammar
How to Use “blok” in a Sentence
block + [object] (e.g., block the road)[something] + block + [of + noun] (e.g., a block of cheese)have/hit a blockVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blok” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fallen tree will block the lane for hours.
- She decided to block that number on her phone.
American English
- A protest blocked traffic on Fifth Avenue.
- I had to block the sun with my hand.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Please write your name in block capitals.
- It was a block booking for the whole theatre.
American English
- Use block letters on the form.
- We got a block rate for the hotel rooms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A block of shares; a block booking; to block a transaction.
Academic
A block of text; cognitive block; building blocks of a theory.
Everyday
A block of cheese; the house down the block; my internet is blocked.
Technical
Cylinder block (engineering); block and tackle; memory block (computing).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blok”
- Spelling confusion with 'bloc' (a group of nations/parties).
- Using 'block' for a small piece (better: 'piece', 'bit').
- Incorrect verb preposition: 'block from doing' not 'block to do'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Block' is general (physical object, obstacle). 'Bloc' refers specifically to a group of countries or parties with a shared purpose (e.g., 'the Eastern Bloc').
It is neutral and used across all registers, from everyday conversation to technical fields.
Yes, very commonly. It means to obstruct or prevent movement/access (e.g., 'block a path', 'block a website').
It is the smallest area of land in a city or town that is surrounded by streets. Distance is often measured in 'blocks' (e.g., 'It's three blocks away').
A solid, often rectangular mass or group of material.
Blok: in British English it is pronounced /blɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /blɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chip off the old block”
- “on the block”
- “put your head on the block”
- “a block away”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a child's toy BLOCK – it's solid, square, and you can build with it or it can be in the way.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLES ARE SOLID BLOCKS (e.g., 'a mental block'); IDEAS/COMPONENTS ARE BUILDING BLOCKS.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'a chip off the old block' mean?