English Explanatory Dictionary

balk

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An uncultivated ridge formed in the open field system, caused by the action of ploughing.
  2. The wall of earth at the edge of an excavation.
  3. Beam, crossbeam; squared timber; a tie beam of a house, stretching from wall to wall, especially when laid so as to form a loft, "the balks".
  4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check.
  5. A sudden and obstinate stop.
  6. An omission.
  7. A deceptive motion.
  8. An illegal motion by the pitcher, intended to deceive a runner.
  9. A motion used to deceive the opponent during a serve.
  10. The area of the table lying behind the line from which the cue ball is initially shot, and from which a ball in hand must be played.
  11. The area of the table lying behind the baulk line.
  12. The rope by which fishing nets are fastened together.
verb
  1. To be unwilling to do something; to refuse to proceed or do or allow something, either in general or only temporarily.
  2. To stop short and refuse to go on or do something (such as jump).
  3. To move fitfully, stopping frequently.
  4. To leave or make a balk or balks (ridges) in; to leave a ridge in by leaving partly unploughed.
  5. To stop, check, block (by or as if by an obstacle); to hinder, impede, thwart.
  6. To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles.
  7. To pass over or by (either by chance or intentionally); to avoid in passing.
  8. To omit, miss, or overlook by chance, error, or inadvertance.
  9. To miss intentionally; to avoid, ignore, or shun.
  10. To refuse or fail to use (something), either through error or intentionally.
  11. To refuse (something).
  12. To let (something) slip; to fail to use or seize or keep (something).
noun
  1. A small brass ornament fixed at the top of a wand.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/bɔːk/ /bɔːlk/ /bɔk/ /bɔlk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-balk.wav /bɑk/

Word forms

balk balks baulk balking balked

Etymology

From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô. Cognate with Dutch balk (“balk”), German Balken (“balk”), Italian balcone (“balcony”).

Synonyms

failure feint jib miss overlook avoid shun refuse shirk frustrate foil baffle thwart

Derived words

balkish balk line balky baulk end bierbalk randle-balk balked landing balking balkingly unbalked

Translations

Breton: erv Bulgarian: неизорана ивица земя Bulgarian: финт Bulgarian: лъжливо движение Finnish: piennar Finnish: harhautus French: raie French: balk French: feinte irrégulière German: Rain German: Feldrain German: Feldrand German: Furchenrücken Ancient Greek: σφῦρα Italian: porca Manx: immyr vane Polish: miedza Romanian: hat Romanian: hotar Romanian: fentă Lower Sorbian: mjaza Hungarian: kikerül Hungarian: elhalad (mellette) Hungarian: elmegy (mellette)
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