blockade
- 01 C1 Advanced
the use of ships or soldiers to block a port or city so that nothing can go in or out.
the physical isolation of a location, particularly a port, by hostile forces to prevent the passage of commerce and supplies.
Simple“The navy set up a blockade to stop supplies from reaching the enemy port.”
In context“The government maintained a strict naval blockade for several months, effectively crippling the city's economy by preventing the export of local goods.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'impose', 'lift', or 'break'.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
the act of stopping a chemical or nerve signal from working in the body.
the inhibition of the physiological activity of a chemical messenger or its receptor, often through the use of drugs.
Simple“The doctor used a nerve blockade to stop the patient from feeling pain during the procedure.”
In context“The pharmacological blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors is a standard treatment for managing certain cardiovascular conditions.”
UsageCommonly appears in the context of 'receptor blockade' or 'nerve blockade'.
SynonymsAntonyms
“When the capital came under siege by Islamist fighters, they managed to impose a partial blockade there and total blockades elsewhere including the city of Ségou.”
“His mother, brother and sister, and three neighbours have also been blockaded inside, and their power and water have been cut off.”
From block + -ade, probably after Dutch blocquade (now blokkade) or German Blockade.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.