block
gb/blˈɑk/ us/blˈɑk/
A2
English
~ 3000
háztömb, akadályoz, elzár, tömb, kocka, akadály, mentális blokk, torlasz, letilt, blokkol
NOUN
A2
1
háztömb
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is [number] blocks [direction] from [place]
The coffee shop is just two blocks from here.
A kávézó csak két háztömbnyire van innen.
They walked around the block to get some fresh air.
Körbesétálták a háztömböt, hogy szívjanak egy kis friss levegőt.
Her apartment is on the next block over from the library.
Learner examples
The bank is one block from my house.
A bank egy háztömbnyire van a házamtól.
We walked three blocks to the park.
Három háztömbnyit sétáltunk a parkig.
The school is on the same block as the store.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'block' with 'square' or 'district', which can refer to larger or differently defined areas.
Meaning
City area between streets
Collocations
city block
|walk a block
|two blocks away
|around the block
|block party
Synonyms
city square (Refers to a specific open public space, not just any city block.)
Antonyms
open field (An undeveloped area without streets or buildings.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|geography
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A part of a city with streets all around it.
A section of a city enclosed by streets on all sides.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to block [something/someone] from [doing something]
Police blocked the road after the accident.
A rendőrség a baleset után lezárta az utat.
He blocked her from entering the room.
Megakadályozta, hogy belépjen a szobába.
The defender blocked the shot at the last second.
Learner examples
A car blocked the street.
Egy autó elzárta az utcát.
She blocked him from going inside.
Megakadályozta, hogy bemenjen.
The player blocked the ball.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'block' with 'lock', but 'lock' means to secure something, not to stop movement physically.
Meaning
Stop movement or progress
Collocations
block the road
|block access
|block a shot
|block someone's way
Synonyms
obstruct (Slightly more formal and often used for physical barriers.)
Antonyms
clear (Means to remove obstacles and allow movement.)
Themes
daily life
|conflict
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop someone or something from going ahead or doing something.
To stop someone or something from moving forward or making progress.
NOUN
A2
3
The children played with wooden blocks.
A gyerekek fakockákkal játszottak.
They used concrete blocks to build the wall.
Betontömböket használtak a fal megépítéséhez.
A block of ice was delivered to the kitchen.
Learner examples
I have a block of wood.
Van egy fatömböm.
The kids play with blocks.
A gyerekek építőkockákkal játszanak.
We saw a big block of ice.
Meaning
Solid piece of material
Collocations
wooden block
|ice block
|concrete block
Synonyms
cube (Specifically refers to a shape with equal sides, not all blocks are cubes.)
Antonyms
powder (Represents a loose, fine material instead of a solid piece.)
Themes
construction
|toys
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A hard piece of material, usually square or rectangular.
A solid piece of hard material, often with flat surfaces and straight edges.
NOUN
B1
4
The fallen tree created a block in the road.
A kidőlt fa akadályt képezett az úton.
He has a mental block when it comes to math.
Ha matematikáról van szó, mentális blokkja van.
There was a block in the negotiations.
Learner examples
The tree made a block in the road.
A fa akadályt jelentett az úton.
I have a block in my mind for names.
Ha nevekről van szó, leblokkol az agyam.
The talks stopped because of a big block.
Meaning
Obstacle preventing movement or progress
Collocations
mental block
|road block
|block in negotiations
Synonyms
barrier (Often physical, but also used metaphorically.)
Antonyms
pathway (A route that allows movement without obstruction.)
Themes
daily life
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that stops people, things, or ideas from moving or happening.
Something that stops movement, progress, or flow.
VERB
B1
5
Usage pattern:
to block [someone] on [platform]
She blocked him on Instagram after their argument.
A veszekedésük után letiltotta őt az Instagramon.
You can block unwanted calls on your phone.
A telefonodon letilthatod a nem kívánt hívásokat.
He was blocked from commenting on the forum.
Learner examples
I blocked him on Facebook.
Letiltottam őt a Facebookon.
You can block spam calls.
Letilthatod a kéretlen hívásokat.
She blocked me after I sent many messages.
Meaning
Prevent contact or messages
Collocations
block a number
|block someone on social media
Synonyms
ban (Often used for official prohibition, not personal communication control.)
Antonyms
unblock (To remove restrictions and allow contact again.)
Themes
technology
|relationships
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
To stop someone from calling, messaging, or seeing your posts online.
To stop someone from contacting you, especially on a phone, social media, or other communication platform.
Grammar
Dictionary form
block
IPA
GB/blˈɑk/
US/blˈɑk/
Syllables & stress
block (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (block)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: block
- Plural: blocks
Verb
- Base: block
- 3rd Person Singular: blocks
- Present Participle: blocking
- Past: blocked
Word family
Expressions
around the block
1/ɚˈaʊnd ðə blˈɑk/
fixed phrase
Walk or travel along surrounding streets
To go along the streets that form a circle around one city block.
Examples
- Let's take a walk around the block before dinner.
- The kids rode their bikes around the block.
chip off the old block
1/t͡ʃˈɪp ˈɔf ðə ˈoʊld blˈɑk/
idiom
informal
Person similar to parent
Someone who is very much like one of their parents in looks or behavior.
Examples
- He's a real chip off the old block, just like his father.
- She’s hardworking—a chip off the old block.
road block
1/ɹˈoʊd blˈɑk/
fixed phrase
Barrier stopping vehicles on road
A barrier on a road that stops cars from going through.
Examples
- Police set up a road block after the robbery.
- We were delayed by a road block on the highway.
writer's block
1/ɹˈaɪtɚz blˈɑk/
fixed phrase
Difficulty producing writing ideas
When a writer cannot think of what to write next.
Examples
- She’s suffering from writer’s block and hasn’t written in weeks.
- He overcame his writer’s block by taking a break.