block
UK[blɒk]US[blɑːk]
n
a solid piece of hard material, such as wood or stone, with flat sides
n
a large building divided into separate parts
n
an area in a town or city surrounded by four streets
v
to prevent movement through or past something
v
to stop something from happening or succeeding
Etymology
The word 'block' entered Middle English from Middle Dutch 'blok' or Old French 'bloc', both meaning a log or a block of wood. These terms likely stem from a common Germanic root, perhaps related to the concept of a mass or a lump. The core idea of a solid, obstructive mass has remained remarkably consistent, evolving from a physical object like a tree stump to encompass a wide range of modern meanings, including a city district, a large building, and the act of obstruction itself. This semantic expansion illustrates how a concrete, physical concept can develop more abstract and figurative applications over centuries of linguistic use.
Analysis
The word 'block' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It does not neatly segment into distinct, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The child played with wooden blocks on the floor.
There was a block in the pipe, causing the sink to flood.
The defender moved quickly to block the shot on goal.