Dictionary

building block en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

1. (literally) A component that is part of a larger construction, such as a brick or a stone.
2. (literally) A component that is part of a larger construction, such as a brick or a stone. ▸ A block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy and can be stacked or joined to form a larger structure.
3. (figuratively) A component that is an essential part of a larger system.
   • If you thought leveraged debt was bad when the Glazers did it with Manchester United, it’s possible you’ll find it even worse when water firms are holding you to a 40% bill hike if you simply want one of the essential building blocks of human life to come out of your tap. 2023 June 30, Marina Hyde, “The tide is coming in fast on Rishi Sunak – and it’s full of sewage”, in The Guardian:
   • Words are the building blocks of a language.
   • Cells are the building blocks of life.

Forms

Relateds

stepping stone · stumbling block

Translations (46)

pt bloco de montar (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · mn ᠵᠡᠷᠭᠡᠯᠡᠬᠦ ᠮᠣᠳᠤ (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fr brique (component that is part of a larger construction) · ja 積み木 (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fi rakennusosanen ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · de Bauklotz (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fr cube (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · mn ᠡᠪᠯᠡᠭᠦᠯᠳᠡᠭ ᠲᠣᠭᠯᠠᠭᠠᠮ (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · de Spielbaustein (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fi rakennuspalikka (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fi rakennusosa (component that is part of a larger construction) · fr bloc de construction (component that is part of a larger construction) · tr yapı bloğu (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · pt bloco de construção (component that is part of a larger construction) · de Baustein (component that is part of a larger construction) · mn өрдөг тоглоом (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · nn byggestein (component that is part of a larger construction) · ru ку́бик (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · pl budulec (component that is part of a larger construction) · nn byggjekloss (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · nb byggekloss (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · tr yapı taşı (component that is part of a larger construction) · nb byggeblokk (component that is part of a larger construction) · es bloque de construcción (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · pl budulec ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · nl bouwsteen (component that is part of a larger construction) · hu építőkocka (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · mn зэргэлэх мод (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · de Baustein ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · mn ᠥᠷᠳᠡᠭ ᠲᠣᠭᠯᠠᠭᠠᠮ (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · mn эвлүүлдэг тоглоом (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · cmn 基礎 /基础 (component that is part of a larger construction) · nn byggekloss (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · pt bloco de construção (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · fr composante ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · nl bouwsteen ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · cmn 積木 /积木 (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · ru строи́тельный блок (component that is part of a larger construction) · nb byggestein (component that is part of a larger construction) · nb byggeblokk (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · pl klocek (block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy) · hu építőkő (component that is part of a larger construction) · fr élément constitutif ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · pl blok ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system) · pl element składowy (component that is part of a larger construction) · fi rakennusosa ((figuratively) component that is part of a larger system)