| • | A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood,
   stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane,
   faces; as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which
   to mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc. | 
											
															| • | The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay
   their necks when they are beheaded. | 
											
															| • | The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. | 
											
															| • | The pattern or shape of a hat. | 
											
															| • | A large or long building divided into separate houses or
   shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other
   so as to form one building; a row of houses or shops. | 
											
															| • | A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets,
   whether occupied by buildings or not. | 
											
															| • | A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell
   which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be
   attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as
   in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and
   also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate
   of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the
   rigging of ships, and in tackles. | 
											
															| • | The perch on which a bird of prey is kept. | 
											
															| • | Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a
   hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way. | 
											
															| • | A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work. | 
											
															| • | A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a
   stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high. | 
											
															| • | A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. | 
											
															| • | A section of a railroad where the block system is used.
   See Block system, below. | 
											
															| • | To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to prevent
   passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the way; -- used both of
   persons and things; -- often followed by up; as, to block up a road or
   harbor. | 
											
															| • | To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two
   boards at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood glued to
   each. | 
											
															| • | To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat. |