Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
block letter
block off
block out
block party
block plane
block printing
block up
block vote
blockade
blockage
blockboard
blockbuster
blockbusting
blocker
blockhead
blockhouse
blocky
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "blockade" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

blockade

block·ade [ blo káyd ]


noun  (plural block·ades)
Definition:
 
1. prevention of access: an organized action to prevent people or goods entering or leaving a place

2. forces forming blockade: the ships or forces used to maintain a blockade

3. obstacle or obstruction: something that prevents access to a place



transitive verb  (past and past participle block·ad·ed, present participle block·ad·ing, 3rd person present singular block·ades)
Definition:
 
1. subject place to blockade: to impose a blockade on a place

2. block access to place: to obstruct access to a place

[Late 17th century. Perhaps after ambuscade]

block·ad·er noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft