BLOCKAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does blockage mean? 

• BLOCKAGE (noun)
  The noun BLOCKAGE has 3 senses:

1. the physical condition of blocking or filling a passage with an obstruction

2. an obstruction in a pipe or tube

3. the act of blocking

  Familiarity information: BLOCKAGE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLOCKAGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The physical condition of blocking or filling a passage with an obstruction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

blockage; obstruction

Hypernyms ("blockage" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blockage"):

ileus; intestinal obstruction (blockage of the intestine (especially the ileum) that prevents the contents of the intestine from passing to the lower bowel)

tamponade; tamponage (blockage or closure (as of a wound or body cavity) by (or as if by) a tampon (especially to stop bleeding))

Derivation:

block (hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An obstruction in a pipe or tube

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

block; blockage; closure; occlusion; stop; stoppage

Context example:

we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe

Hypernyms ("blockage" is a kind of...):

impediment; impedimenta; obstructer; obstruction; obstructor (any structure that makes progress difficult)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blockage"):

breech closer; breechblock (a metal block in breech-loading firearms that is withdrawn to insert a cartridge and replaced to close the breech before firing)

plug; stopper; stopple (blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly)

vapor lock; vapour lock (a stoppage in a pipeline caused by gas bubbles (especially a stoppage that develops in hot weather in an internal-combustion engine when fuel in the gas line boils and forms bubbles that block the flow of gasoline to the carburetor))

Derivation:

block (obstruct)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of blocking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

blockage; closure; occlusion

Hypernyms ("blockage" is a kind of...):

obstruction (the act of obstructing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blockage"):

implosion (the initial occluded phase of a stop consonant)

Derivation:

block (impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball))

block (render unsuitable for passage)

block (shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight)

block (hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of)

block (stop from happening or developing)

 Context examples 

You may need surgery again if blockages form in the grafted arteries or veins or in arteries that weren't blocked before.

(Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Crohn's can cause complications, such as intestinal blockages, ulcers in the intestine, and problems getting enough nutrients.

(Crohn's Disease, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

CT angiography may be used to check for aneurysms (a bulge in the blood vessel wall), blockages in the arteries, blood clots, and other blood vessel problems.

(CT angiography, NCI Dictionary)

A longstanding, complete blockage of a vessel.

(Chronic Total Occlusion Vessel, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

A disorder characterized by blockage of the normal flow of the intestinal contents in the colon.

(Colonic Obstruction, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Computed tomography angiography may be used to check for aneurysms (a bulge in the blood vessel wall), blockages in the arteries, blood clots, and other blood vessel problems.

(Computed tomography angiography, NCI Dictionary)

CTA may be used to check for aneurysms (a bulge in the blood vessel wall), blockages in the arteries, blood clots, and other blood vessel problems.

(CTA, NCI Dictionary)

This leads to a blockage of nerve impulse initiation and conduction and results in a reversible loss of sensation.

(Mepivacaine, NCI Thesaurus)

Blockage of the normal flow of the contents of an anatomical passageway.

(Obstruction, NCI Thesaurus)

It is caused by the intermittent relaxation of pharyngeal muscles leading to the narrowing or complete blockage of the upper airway.

(Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)