▸ block out
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone blocks out a thought, they try not to think about it. □ [V P n] She accuses me of having blocked out the past. □ [V n P + of ] I had to block the thought out of my mind.
2 PHRASAL VERB Something that blocks out light prevents it from reaching a place. □ [V P n] Thick chipboard across the window frames blocked out the daylight. □ [V n P ] Those clouds would have cast shadows that would have blocked some sunlight out.
block|ade /blɒke I d/ (blockades , blockading , blockaded )
1 N‑COUNT A blockade of a place is an action that is taken to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving it. □ [+ of ] Striking lorry drivers agreed to lift their blockades of main roads. □ [+ of ] …the economic blockade of Lithuania.
2 VERB If a group of people blockade a place, they stop goods or people from reaching that place. If they blockade a road or a port, they stop people using that road or port. □ [V n] Truck drivers have blockaded roads to show their anger over new driving regulations. [Also V -ed]
block|age /blɒ k I dʒ/ (blockages ) N‑COUNT A blockage in a pipe, tube, or tunnel is an object which blocks it, or the state of being blocked. □ …a total blockage in one of the coronary arteries.
block|bust|er /blɒ kbʌstə r / (blockbusters ) N‑COUNT A blockbuster is a film or book that is very popular and successful, usually because it is very exciting. [INFORMAL ]
block|bust|ing /blɒ kbʌst I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A blockbusting film or book is one that is very successful, usually because it is very exciting. [JOURNALISM , INFORMAL ] □ …a four-hour blockbusting disaster movie spread over two nights.
blo ck ca pi|tals N‑PLURAL [usu in N ] Block capitals are simple capital letters that are not decorated in any way.
blo ck le t|ters N‑PLURAL [usu in N ] Block letters are the same as block capitals .
blo ck vo te (block votes ) N‑COUNT A block vote is a large number of votes that are all cast in the same way by one person on behalf of a group of people.
blog /blɒ g, [AM ] blɔː g/ (blogs , blogging , blogged )
1 N‑COUNT A blog is a website where someone regularly records their thoughts or experiences or talks about a subject [COMPUTING ] □ When Barbieux started his blog, his aspirations were small; he simply hoped to communicate with a few people. ● blog|ger (bloggers ) N‑COUNT □ While most bloggers comment on news reported elsewhere, some do their own reporting. ● blog|ging N‑UNCOUNT □ …the explosion in the popularity of blogging.
2 VERB Someone who blogs writes a blog. □ [V n] She blogs about US politics.
blogo|sphere /blɒ gəsf I ə r / or blogsphere /blɒ gsf I ə r / N‑SING In computer technology, the blogosphere or the blogsphere is all the weblogs on the internet, considered collectively. [COMPUTING ] □ The blogosphere has been buzzing with theories as to who the victim is. □ The blogsphere has changed a lot in the past few years.
blog|post /blɒ gpoʊst/ (blogposts ) N‑COUNT A blogpost is a piece of writing that forms part of a regular blog. □ His latest blogpost describes the journey.
bloke /bloʊ k/ (blokes ) N‑COUNT A bloke is a man. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He is a really nice bloke.
blonde /blɒ nd/ (blondes , blonder , blondest ) The form blonde is usually used to refer to women, and blond to refer to men. 1 COLOUR A woman who has blonde hair has pale-coloured hair. Blonde hair can be very light brown or light yellow. The form blond is used when describing men. □ There were two little girls, one Asian and one with blonde hair. □ The baby had blond curls.
2 ADJ Someone who is blonde has blonde hair. □ He was blonder than his brother. □ …the striking blond actor.
3 N‑COUNT A blonde is a woman who has blonde hair.
blo nde bo mb|shell (blonde bombshells ) N‑COUNT Journalists sometimes use blonde bombshell to refer to a woman with blonde hair who is very attractive. [INFORMAL ]
blood ◆◆◇ /blʌ d/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Blood is the red liquid that flows inside your body, which you can see if you cut yourself.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can use blood to refer to the race or social class of someone's parents or ancestors. □ There was Greek blood in his veins.
3 PHRASE If you say that there is bad blood between people, you mean that they have argued about something and dislike each other. □ There is, it seems, some bad blood between Mills and the Baldwins.
4 PHRASE If you say that something makes your blood boil , you are emphasizing that it makes you very angry. [EMPHASIS ] □ It makes my blood boil to think two thugs decided to pick on an innocent young girl.
5 PHRASE If something violent and cruel is done in cold blood , it is done deliberately and in an unemotional way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The crime had been committed in cold blood.
6 → see also cold-blooded
7 PHRASE If you say that something makes your blood run cold or makes your blood freeze , you mean that it makes you feel very frightened. [EMPHASIS ] □ The rage in his eyes made her blood run cold. □ He could hear a sudden roaring. His blood froze.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone has a person's blood on their hands , you mean that they are responsible for that person's death. □ He has my son's blood on his hands. I hope it haunts him for the rest of his days.