block

S1 W1

BrE /blɒk/ AmE /blɑːk/

noun / verb en → es

past blocked pp blocked ing blocking

1 BUILDING A2

a large building that is divided into separate apartments or offices

edificio, bloque de apartamentos

  • the block of flats

Collocations apartment block · office block

  • We live in a large apartment block.

    Vivimos en un gran edificio de apartamentos.

2 OBSTRUCT [transitive, T + obj] B1

to prevent something from happening or moving freely

bloquear, obstruir

  • block the road

Collocations block traffic · block a view

  • The fallen tree blocked the road.

    El árbol caído bloqueó la carretera.

3 AREA A2

a large area of land in a city, usually with buildings on it

manzana, cuadra

  • the block between two streets

Collocations city block · residential block

  • The park is just one block away.

    El parque está a solo una cuadra de distancia.

4 MEMORY [transitive, T + obj] B2

to prevent someone from remembering something or thinking clearly about it

bloquear, obstruir (la memoria)

  • block a memory

Collocations block out memories · block thoughts

  • The trauma has blocked her memory.

    El trauma ha bloqueado su memoria.

5 COMPUTER B2

a part of a computer that does calculations or controls other parts of the machine

unidad de procesamiento, chip

  • the central processing block

Collocations processing block · control block

  • The new computer has a powerful processing block.

    La nueva computadora tiene una unidad de procesamiento potente.

6 SPORT [transitive, T + obj] B1

a defensive move in sports where you stand between the ball and an opponent to prevent them from scoring or getting the ball

bloquear, interponerse

  • block a shot

Collocations block a goal · block a pass

  • The defender blocked the striker's shot.

    El defensa bloqueó el disparo del delantero.

7 ART A2

a piece of wood, plastic, or other material that you use to make a painting or drawing with

lápiz de cera, tiza

  • the art block

Collocations drawing block · painting block

  • She used a red block to color the flower.

    Ella usó un lápiz de cera rojo para colorear la flor.

8 MATH B2

a number that is multiplied by itself a certain number of times, especially in mathematics

base, potencia

  • the block of a number

Collocations square block · cube block

  • In the equation 2^3, 2 is the base and 3 is the exponent.

    En la ecuación 2^3, 2 es la base y 3 es el exponente.

Phrasal verbs

block out MEMORY/OBSTRUCT B2

bloquear (la memoria), obstruir

  • She tried to block out the painful memories.

    Ella intentó bloquear los recuerdos dolorosos.

block up OBSTRUCT B1

obstruir, taponar

  • The drain was blocked up with leaves.

    El desagüe estaba obstruido con hojas.

block off OBSTRUCT B1

bloquear, cerrar (temporalmente)

  • They blocked off the street for the parade.

    Cerraron la calle temporalmente para el desfile.

block in OBSTRUCT B1

bloquear, encerrar (dentro)

  • The car was blocked in by other vehicles.

    El coche estaba bloqueado por otros vehículos.

block away DISTANCE B1

a cuadras de distancia

  • The museum is two blocks away.

    El museo está a dos cuadras de distancia.

Idioms

block someone's way B2

bloquear el camino a alguien

  • He blocked her way to the door.

    Él bloqueó su camino hacia la puerta.

block someone's view B2

obstruir la vista a alguien

  • The tall building blocks my view of the mountains.

    El edificio alto obstruye mi vista de las montañas.

block someone's progress B2

bloquear el progreso a alguien

  • The bureaucracy blocks the progress of many projects.

    La burocracia bloquea el progreso de muchos proyectos.