blockade
UK /blɒˈkeɪd/ · US /blɑˈkeɪd/ noun, verb
Forms blockades blockading blockaded
- noun The physical blocking or surrounding of a place, especially a port, in order to prevent commerce and traffic in or out.
- noun (by extension) Any form of formal isolation or inhibition of something, especially with the force of law or arms.
- noun (nautical) The ships or other forces used to effect a naval blockade.
- noun (biology, medicine) Inhibition of the activity (function) of chemical messengers or their receptors, such as (often) receptor antagonism. “beta-blockade”
- noun (chess) The act of preventing an opponent's pawn moving by placing a piece in front of it.
- noun (backgammon) Synonym of prime.
- verb (transitive) To create a blockade against.
Synonyms
antagonism receptor antagonism prime embargo encirclement obstruct block hinder stymie stymy embarrass barricade stop block off block up bar seal off
Etymology
From block + -ade, probably after Dutch blocquade (now blokkade) or German Blockade.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the blockade of the ports of an enemy.
- noun An obstruction to passage. To raise a blockade. See under Raise.
- verb To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n. "Blockaded the place by sea." Gilpin.
- verb Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.
Etymology [Cf. It. bloccata. See Block, v. t.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “blockade”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details