block grant | a grant of federal money to state and local governments to support social welfare programs, block grants reduce federal responsibility for social welfare |
block vote | a vote proportional in magnitude to the number of people that a delegate represents |
blocking block | the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements |
trap block | (American football) an illegal block |
data encryption | (computer science) the encryption of data for security purposes |
auction block block | a platform from which an auctioneer sells, they put their paintings on the block |
block | a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides), the pyramids were built with large stone blocks |
block | housing in a large building that is divided into separate units, there is a block of classrooms in the west wing |
blockage block closure occlusion stop stoppage | an obstruction in a pipe or tube, we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe |
block and tackle | pulley blocks with associated rope or cable |
block diagram | a diagram showing the interconnections between the components of system (especially an electronic system) |
block plane | a small plane used on end grains of wood |
bollock bullock block | a pulley-block at the head of a topmast |
building block | a block of material used in construction work |
butcher board butcher block | a thick wooden slab formed by bonding together thick laminated strips of unpainted hardwood |
chopping block | a steady wooden block on which food can be cut or diced or wood can be split |
cinder block clinker block breeze block | a light concrete building block made with cinder aggregate, cinder blocks are called breeze blocks in Britain |
computer computing machine computing device data processor electronic computer information processing system | a machine for performing calculations automatically |
computer system computing system automatic data processing system ADP system ADPS | a system of one or more computers and associated software with common storage |
cube square block | a block in the (approximate) shape of a cube |
damper block piano damper | damper consisting of a small felted block that drops onto a piano string to stop its vibration |
data converter | converter for changing information from one code to another |
data input device input device | a device that can be used to insert data into a computer or other computational device |
data multiplexer | a multiplexer that permits two or more data sources to share a common transmission medium |
data system information system | system consisting of the network of all communication channels used within an organization |
engine block cylinder block block | a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine, the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked |
highise tower block | tower consisting of a multistoried building of offices or apartments, `tower block' is the British term for `highise' |
ingot metal bar block of metal | metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling |
linecut line block line engraving | engraving consisting of a block that has been etched or engraved |
link data link | an interconnecting circuit between two or more locations for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data |
naval tactical data system | a shipboard system for collecting and displaying tactical data |
office building office block | a building containing offices where work is done |
pillow block | a cast-iron or steel block for supporting a journal or bearing |
pulley pulley-block pulley block block | a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope |
sketchbook sketch block sketch pad | a book containing sheets of paper on which sketches can be drawn |
snatch block | a pulley-block that can be opened to receive the bight of a rope |
starting block | block providing bracing for a runner's feet at start of a race |
stumbling block | any obstacle or impediment |
surface gauge surface gage scribing block | gauge consisting of a scriber mounted on an adjustable stand, used to test the accuracy of plane surfaces |
swage block | an iron block cut with holes and grooves to assist in cold working metal |
track data track | (computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data |
woodcut wood block wood engraving | engraving consisting of a block of wood with a design cut into it, used to make prints |
block mental block | an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do, often caused by emotional tension, I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block |
writer's block | an inability to write, he had writer's block, the words wouldn't come |
data structure | (computer science) the organization of data (and its storage allocations in a computer) |
hierarchical structure hierarchical data structure | a structure of data having several levels arranged in a treelike structure |
data conversion | conversion from one way of encoding data to another way |
datum data point | an item of factual information derived from measurement or research |
storage medium data-storage medium | a medium for storing information |
digital communication data communication | electronic transmission of information that has been encoded digitally (as for storage and processing by computers) |