BLOCK OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does block out mean? 

• BLOCK OUT (verb)
  The verb BLOCK OUT has 4 senses:

1. plan where and when songs should be inserted into a theatrical production, or plan a theatrical production in general

2. prevent from entering

3. shield from light

4. indicate roughly

  Familiarity information: BLOCK OUT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLOCK OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Plan where and when songs should be inserted into a theatrical production, or plan a theatrical production in general

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "block out" is one way to...):

lay out (provide a detailed plan or design)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Prevent from entering

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

block out; screen

Context example:

block out the strong sunlight

Hypernyms (to "block out" is one way to...):

block; close up; impede; jam; obstruct; obturate; occlude (block passage through)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "block out"):

shade (protect from light, heat, or view)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Shield from light

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

block out; mask

Hypernyms (to "block out" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Domain category:

photography; picture taking (the act of taking and printing photographs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Indicate roughly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

We sketched out our plan

Hypernyms (to "block out" is one way to...):

adumbrate; outline; sketch (describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

It's important to regularly use sunglasses that block out at least 99 percent of UV rays.

(Eye Wear, NIH)

The astronomers needed STIS's sharp resolution to isolate the faint light from the black-hole region and block out contaminating starlight.

(Hubble Uncovers Black Hole Disk that Shouldn't Exist, NASA)

Patches of dust block out the light as it travels towards us, preventing us from seeing the stars behind it, and smaller tendrils of dust create the dark filamentary structures within the clouds.

(Stellar Nursery Blooms into View, ESO)