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blockade

Syllabification: (block·ade)
Pronunciation: /bläˈkād/

Translate blockade | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of blockade

noun

  • an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving:there was a blockade of humanitarian aid the police pulled down blockades on the highway
  • an obstruction of a physiological or mental function, especially of a biochemical receptor.

verb

[with object]
  • seal off (a place) to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

Phrases

run a blockade

(of a ship) manage to enter or leave a blockaded port.

Derivatives

blockader

noun

Origin:

late 17th century: from block + -ade1, probably influenced by ambuscade

blockade in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of blockade in the British & World English dictionary