blockade

[ blo-keyd ]

noun

1. the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
2. any obstruction of passage or progress:

   We had difficulty in getting through the blockade of bodyguards.

3. Pathology. interruption or inhibition of a normal physiological signal, as a nerve impulse or a heart muscle–contraction impulse.

verb (used with object)

, block·ad·ed, block·ad·ing.

1. to subject to a blockade.

blockade

/ blɒˈkeɪd /

noun

1. military the interdiction of a nation's sea lines of communications, esp of an individual port by the use of sea power
2. something that prevents access or progress
3. med the inhibition of the effect of a hormone or a drug, a transport system, or the action of a nerve by a drug

verb

1. to impose a blockade on
2. to obstruct the way to

Derived Forms

• blockˈader, noun

Other Words From

• block·ader noun
• counter·block·ade noun verb counterblockaded counterblockading
• nonblock·aded adjective
• preblock·ade noun verb (used with object) preblockaded preblockading
• problock·ade adjective
• unblock·aded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blockade¹

1670–80; block (in the sense “to create obstacles”) + -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of blockade¹

C17: from block + -ade , as in ambuscade

Synonym Study

See siege.

Example Sentences

The Trump administration had approved Medicaid work requirements for 13 states and had approvals pending in nine others — all were under the control of Republican governors or legislatures or both — before the waivers ran into the court blockade and ultimately into the accession of the Biden administration.

From Los Angeles Times

A South African court has ordered that a police blockade of a disused goldmine, in which hundreds of people are located illegally, be lifted.

From BBC

But the South African Human Rights Commission said on Friday that it had begun an investigation into the SAPS's handling of the Stilfontein mine incident, following complaints that the blockade may have infringed the miners' right to life.

From BBC

However, the downside is that a complete blockade of this "editing office" also affects healthy cells, resulting in significant side effects of any spliceosome inhibitor developed so far.

From Science Daily

Honking cars cruised down Whittier up to the blockade, then did U-turns.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barricade
• closure
• encirclement
• restriction
• roadblock
• siege
• stoppage