# chock

/ˈtʃɑk/ (US) · /tʃˈɒk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chock
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. nautical fitting

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a metal or wooden part on a ship that guides a rope and keeps it in place.

For teachers: a structural fitting on a deck or bulwark through which a mooring line or cable is passed to prevent chafing and restrict lateral movement.

- The sailor pulled the rope through the metal chock on the side of the boat.
- The heavy mooring line was threaded through the bow chock to ensure the vessel remained stable against the pier during the rising tide.

### 4. completely

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

entirely or completely; almost always used in the phrase 'chock-full'.

For teachers: entirely or quite; survives almost exclusively as an intensifier in the compound 'chock-full'.

- The small suitcase was chock-full of souvenirs from his trip to Italy.
- The report was chock-full of technical data that required several hours of careful analysis by the engineering team.

## Examples

- He placed a chock under the wheel to stop the boat from moving.
- The mechanic used a heavy wooden chock to secure the truck's rear wheels before performing the brake repair.
- In traditional shipbuilding, a chock was essential for stabilizing the vessel during the loading of heavy cargo to prevent the keel from shifting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
