blockade Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
    encirclement.
  2. noun prevents access or progress
  3. verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
    obstruct; hinder; stymie; embarrass; stymy; block.
    • His brother blocked him at every turn
  4. verb render unsuitable for passage
    bar; block up; stop; barricade; block off; block.
    • block the way
    • barricade the streets
    • stop the busy road
  5. verb obstruct access to
    block off.
  6. verb impose a blockade on
    seal off.

WordNet


Block*ade" noun
Etymology
Cf. It. bloccata. See Block, v. t.
Definitions
  1. 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. Blockade is now usually applied to an investment with ships or vessels, while siege is used of an investment by land forces. To constitute a blockade, the investing power must be able to apply its force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it dangerous to attempt to enter; and there is no blockade of that port where its force can not be brought to bear. Kent.
  2. An obstruction to passage.
Block*ade" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Blockaded; present participle & verbal noun Blockading
Definitions
  1. 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.
  2. Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.
    Till storm and driving ice blockade him there. Wordsworth.
  3. To obstruct entrance to or egress from.
    Huge bales of British cloth blockade the door. Pope.

Webster 1913