| Principal Translations |
| block n | (building brick) | bloque nm |
| | They used cement blocks for the foundations of the house. |
| | Usaron bloques de cemento para los cimientos de la casa. |
| block n | (chunk of material) | trozo, pedazo nm |
| | (de madera) | tarugo, zoquete nm |
| | (de material compacto) | bloque nm |
| | He used the block of wood to hold the door open. |
| | Usó un trozo (or: pedazo) de madera para mantener la puerta abierta. |
| block n | (unit, group) | bloque nm |
| | The day is based on four ninety-minute blocks of learning, with a half hour break between each block. |
| | El día tiene cuatro bloques de noventa minutos de aprendizaje, con una pausa de media hora entre bloques. |
| block n | US (distance: street section) | manzana nf |
| | (AmL) | cuadra nf |
| | The post office is three blocks in that direction. |
| | La oficina de correos está a tres manzanas en aquella dirección. |
block,
city block n | US (street section) | manzana nf |
| | (AmL) | cuadra nf |
| | The grocer's shop is on the same block as the pharmacy. |
| | La frutería está en la misma manzana que la farmacia. |
block,
entire city block n | US (square enclosed by streets) | manzana nf |
| | (AmL) | cuadra nf |
| | The new building will cover the entire city block. |
| | El edificio ocupará toda la manzana. |
| block [sb/sth]⇒ vtr | (obstruct) (persona) | cerrar el paso a loc verb |
| | | cerrar el paso loc verb |
| | (persona) | bloquear a, obstruir a vtr + prep |
| | | bloquear⇒, obstruir⇒ vtr |
| | He tried to reach his home but police officers blocked his path. |
| | Trató de llegar a su casa, pero los oficiales de policía le cerraron el paso. |
| block [sth]⇒ vtr | figurative (prevent) | impedir⇒ vtr |
| | | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | | obstaculizar⇒ vtr |
| | The President called on Republicans to stop blocking progress on bills to boost the economy. |
| | El Presidente pidió a los republicanos que dejasen de impedir el avance de las leyes para mejorar la economía. |
| block [sb/sth]⇒ vtr | (internet: prevent from accessing) | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | (persona) | bloquear a vtr + prep |
| | This security software blocks any website with adult content. |
| | Este software de seguridad bloquea cualquier sitio web con contenido adulto. |
| block [sb/sth] vtr | (prevent from contacting) | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | | bloquear a vtr + prep |
| | You should block trolls on social media sites. |
| | Zoe kept getting sales calls from the same company, so she blocked their number. |
| | Zoe seguía recibiendo llamadas de ventas de la misma compañía así que bloqueó su número. |
| | Deberías bloquear a los trolls de las redes sociales. |
| Additional Translations |
| block n | often plural (child's toy cube) | cubo nm |
| | | bloque nm |
| | The child really liked the blocks with the coloured letters on them. |
| | Al niño le gustaron mucho los cubos con letras de colores. |
| block n | (pulley) | polea nf |
| | | polipasto nm |
| | The sailors used block and tackle to raise the sails. |
| | Los marineros usaron poleas para izar las velas. |
| | Los marineros usaron un polipasto para izar las velas. |
| block n | figurative (obstacle) | obstáculo, impedimento nm |
| | Severe criticism by a teacher can be a block to learning. |
| | La dura crítica de un maestro puede ser un obstáculo (or: impedimento) para el aprendizaje. |
| block n | (sports: impeding opponent) | bloqueo nm |
| | The block was effective because it freed his teammate to score. |
| | El bloqueo fue efectivo ya que dejo a su compañero libre para anotar. |
| block n | (large building) | bloque, edificio nm |
| | The new office block is taller than other buildings in the neighbourhood. |
| | El nuevo bloque (or: edificio) de oficinas es más alto que los otros edificios del vecindario. |
| block n | (quantity of stocks) (financiero) | paquete nm |
| | He sold a block of stock to raise cash. |
| | Vendió un paquete de acciones para conseguir efectivo. |
| block n | (memory lapse) | bloqueo nm |
| | I have a block and can't remember her name. |
| | Tengo un bloqueo mental y no puedo recordar su nombre. |
| block n | (section of text) | bloque nm |
| | | sección nf |
| | You can highlight a block of text and move it somewhere else on the page. |
| | Puedes seleccionar un bloque de texto y moverlo a otro lugar de la página. |
| block n | slang (head) (coloquial) | coco nm |
| | (AmS: coloquial) | mate nm |
| | | cabeza nf |
| | The drunk threatened to knock the other guy's block off. |
| | El borracho amenazó con romperle el coco al otro tipo. |
| block n | Can, AU, NZ (area of land) | bloque nm |
| block⇒ vi | (sports: hinder) | taponar⇒, bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | In basketball defence, it is the tall player's job to block. |
| | En la defensa del baloncesto, el jugador más alto es el encargado de taponar (or: bloquear). |
| block [sth/sb]⇒ vtr | (sports: hinder) | taponar⇒ vtr |
| | | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | The basketball player blocked the shot. |
| | El basquetbolista taponó el tiro. |
| | El basquetbolista bloqueó el tiro. |
| block [sth]⇒ vtr | (knitting: shape) (tejido) | ahormar⇒ vtr |
| | When you've knitted a garment, washing and blocking it will make it look its best. |
| | Cuando hayas tejido una prenda, lavarla y ahormarla hará que sea vea mejor. |
| block [sth] vtr | (theater: designate positions, action) | diagramar⇒ vtr |
| | The director is blocking the first act this morning. |
| | El director está diagramando el primer acto esta mañana. |
Compound Forms:
block | blocked |
| a chip off the old block n | informal, figurative (person: like parent) (coloquial) | de tal palo, tal astilla expr |
| | (ES, coloquial) | de casta le viene al galgo expr |
| | (ES, coloquial) | de padres gatos, hijos michinos expr |
| | (AR, coloquial) | hijo 'e tigre expr |
| | He'll be a womanizer just like his father; he's a chip off the old block. |
| | Va a ser un mujeriego como su padre; de tal palo, tal astilla. |
| apartment block n | (building: flats, apartments) | bloque de apartamentos nm + loc adj |
| | (ES) | bloque de pisos nm + loc adj |
| | Twelve families live in my apartment block. |
| | En mi bloque de apartamentos viven doce familias. |
| auction block n | (auctioneer's platform) | piso de subasta nm + loc adj |
| | The house ended up on the auction block. |
| be a stumbling block to [sth] v expr | figurative (hinder progress) (figurado) | ser un obstáculo para loc verb |
| | | ser un escollo para loc verb |
| | | ser una traba para loc verb |
| | The issue proved to be a stumbling block during the peace talks. |
| | Ese tema terminó siendo un obstáculo para las negociaciones de paz. |
| | Ese tema terminó siendo un escollo para las negociaciones de paz. |
| block and tackle npl | (ropes, chains used to hoist) | aparejo nm |
| | | aparejo de poleas nm + loc adj |
| | | polispasto, polipasto nm |
| block booking n | (large reservation) | reserva en grupo nf + loc adj |
| | | reserva grupal adj + adj mf |
| block booking n | (movies: sale of multiple films) | reserva en bloque nf + loc adj |
| block capitals npl | (letters: upper-case) | mayúscula nf |
| | Sign your name here and print it in block capitals here. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Por claridad, piden que llenemos el formulario con letra mayúscula. |
| block diagram n | (chart: shows a process) | diagrama de bloques nm |
| block grant n | US (government funding) (MX) | ramo nm |
| | Many communities use federal block grants to improve services. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El Ramo 33 se refiere a las aportaciones federales para las entidades federativas y municipios. [http://www.milenio.com/node/61615] |
| block heater | (water heater) | calentador de bloque de motor nm + loc adj |
| block letter n | (style of lettering) | letra de molde nf + loc adj |
| block letter n | (hand-written capital letter) | letra mayúscula nf + adj |
| block of flats n | UK (apartment building) | bloque de apartamentos nm + loc adj |
| | (ES) | bloque de pisos nm + loc adj |
| | She lived on the third floor of a block of flats. |
| | Vivía en el tercer piso de un bloque de apartamentos. |
| block [sth] out vtr + adv | (light: keep out) | tapar⇒ vtr |
| | | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | They hung thick dark curtains to block the sunlight out. |
| | Colgaron cortinas oscuras y gruesas para tapar la luz del sol de afuera. |
| block [sb/sth] out vtr + adv | figurative (refuse to listen, think) | bloquear⇒ vtr |
| | | no pensar en loc verb |
| | | no prestar atención a loc verb |
| | Some people abuse drugs or alcohol to block out bad memories. |
| | Algunos abusan de las drogas o el alcohol para bloquear sus malos recuerdos. |
| block party n | US (neighbourhood celebration) (ES) | fiesta del barrio nf + loc adj |
| | All neighbors joined in a great block party to celebrate Halloween. |
| block print n | (art: print made by woodcut) | xilografía nf |
| | | grabado xilográfico loc nom m |
| | The students are doing block prints in their art class. |
| | Los estudiantes están haciendo xilografía en la clase de arte. |
| block vote n | (many votes cast by one person) | voto por representante nm + loc prep |
| breeze block n | UK (cinder block) | bloque de hormigón nm + loc adj |
| building block n | (child's toy cube) (juego) | bloque nm |
| | | cubo nm |
| | The little girl made a tower with her wooden building blocks. |
| | La niña hizo una torre con sus bloques de madera. |
| building block n | (construction: brick) | bloque nm |
| | We raised the rain barrel by putting it on four concrete building blocks. |
| | Levantamos el barril de lluvia poniéndolo sobre cuatro bloques de cemento. |
| building block n | figurative (fundamental element) (figurado) | pilar nm |
| | Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. |
| | Los aminoácidos son los pilares de las proteínas. |
| butcher block n | (wood slab) | tabla de cortar nf + loc adj |
chockablock (US),
chock-a-block (UK) adj | informal (packed or stuffed full) (coloquial) | hasta el tope loc adj |
| | (coloquial) | a reventar loc adj |
| | | repleto/a adj |
chockablock with [sth] (US),
chock-a-block with [sth] (UK) adj + prep | informal (completely full of: things, people) | hasta el tope de loc adj |
| | | a reventar de loc adj |
| | | repleto de loc adj |
| chopping block n | (used in decapitation) | tajo nm |
| | | guillotina nf |
| | Visitors to the Tower of London can still see the executioner's axe and the chopping block used to behead two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. |
| | Quienes visitan la Torre de Londres todavía pueden ver el hacha del verdugo y el tajo que se usaron para decapitar a dos de las desafortunadas esposas de Enrique VIII. |
| chopping block n | (board for cutting food) | tabla de cortar nf + loc adj |
| | (AR) | tabla de picar nf + loc adj |
| | Preparó la tabla para cortar la zanahoria en finas julianas. |
| on the chopping block expr | figurative (about to be ended or reduced) (figurado) | en la guillotina loc adv |
cinder block (US),
breeze block (UK) n | (breeze block) | bloque de hormigón nm + loc adj |
| | (CO) | bloqueta nf |
| | Cinder blocks are the norm in tropical areas where termites and storms cause major problems for wood construction. |
| | Los bloques de hormigón son la norma en áreas tropicales donde las termitas y las tormentas causan graves problemas a las construcciones de madera. |
cinder block,
cinder toffee n | (confection: honeycomb) | turrón nm |
| | (voz inglesa) | honeycomb nm |
| | The taste of cinder block takes me back to my childhood. |
| | El sabor del turrón me hace acordar a mi infancia. |
| city block n | (area surrounded by streets) | manzana nf |
| | (AmL) | cuadra nf |
| | That limousine looks like it's almost a city-block long. |
| | La limusina parece tener casi una manzana de largo. |
| concrete block n | (brick made of concrete) | bloque de hormigón nm + loc adj |
| | (AmL) | bloque de concreto nm + loc adj |
| | Concrete blocks are strong but susceptible to forceful vibration. |
| | Los bloques de hormigón son fuertes pero susceptibles a vibraciones fuertes. |
| cylinder block | (mechanics) | bloque de cilindros nm + loc adj |
| | | bloque del motor nm + loc adj |
| dummy block n | (metalworking) (voz inglesa) | dummy block loc nom m |
| epidural block n | (anaesthetic: injected into spine) (coloquial) | peridural nf |
| | A common local anaesthetic during childbirth is an epidural block in the spine. |
| | Un anestésico local común durante los partos es la peridural en la columna. |
erratic block,
erratic boulder n | (geology: rock brought by glacier) (geología) | bloque errático nm + adj |
| garrison house n | (fortification: blockhouse) | caserna nf |
| | | fortín nm |
| | | casa cuartel loc nom f |
| go on the block v expr | (be offered for sale at auction) | ir a subasta loc verb |
| | The painting will be put on the block next Tuesday. |
| have been round/around the block v expr | slang, figurative (be experienced) | tener mucha experiencia, ser muy experimentado loc verb |
| heart block n | (cardiac disorder) (medicina) | bloqueo cardiaco grupo nom |
ice pack,
icepack,
ice block n | (freezable pack used in coolers) | compresa fría loc nom f |
| | (AR) | gel frío loc nom m |
| | Linda slipped a couple of ice packs into the bag to keep the picnic food fresh. |
Lego brick,
Lego block,
a piece of Lego,
also US: Lego n | ® (piece in a Lego set) | Lego n propio m |
| mental block n | (inability to recall) | bloqueo mental nm |
| | When he stepped onto the stage he had a sudden mental block and couldn't remember any of his lines. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Sufrió un bloqueo mental en mitad del discurso. |
| mounting block n | (to get on horse) | escalón de montar nm + loc adj |
| nerve block n | (type of local anaesthetic) (medicina) | bloqueo neural loc nom m |
| | After the nerve block was administered I couldn't feel anything below my waist. |
| | Después de que me administraran el bloqueo neural, no sentía nada por debajo de la cintura. |
| new kid on the block n | US, informal, figurative (newcomer) | recién llegado, chico nuevo grupo nom |
| office block n | (multi-storey office building) | edificio de oficinas nm |
| | My company is on the 4th floor of an office block. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. En el edificio de oficinas pude encontrar un buen contador. |
| on the block expr | US (for sale at auction) | a subasta loc adv |
| | El cuadro saldrá a subasta el próximo martes. |
| on the block expr | figurative (at risk: said of head) | en riesgo loc adv |
| | It's alright for you; it'll be my head on the block if we get this wrong. |
| pillow block n | (engineering: metal support) | cojín de apoyo loc nom m |
| put [sth] on the block v expr | (offer for sale at auction) | poner en venta loc verb |
| spinal block n | (anaesthetic in the spine) | anestesia espinal loc nom f |
| | | bloqueo subaracnoideo loc nom m |
| starting block n | (athletics: foot-positioning device) | taco de salida loc nom m |
| stumbling block n | figurative (obstacle to progress) | escollo nm |
| | Henry's broken Spanish was a stumbling block to his finding a job in Madrid. |
sunblock,
sun block n | (cream to prevent sunburn) | protector solar nm + adj mf |
| | | bloqueador solar nm + adj mf |
| | | filtro solar nm + adj mf |
| | Make sure to wear sunblock when you go to the beach. |
swage block,
swager block n | (swage: iron block for shaping metal) | bloque de estampar nm + loc adj |
| toilet block n | (solid detergent used in lavatory bowl) | pastilla de inodoro nf + loc adj |
| tower block n | (building: high-rise) (de edificios) | torre nf |
woodblock,
wood block n | (block of wood for printing) | plancha de madera grupo nom |
| writer's block n | (author: inability to write) | bloqueo de escritor grupo nom |