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balk

 
 
pronunciation:
bawk
parts of speech:
intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: balks, balking, balked
definition 1: to stop suddenly and refuse to proceed.
The horse balked at the unfamiliar gate.
synonyms:
hesitate, pause, stop
similar words:
blench, evade, flinch, halt, refuse
definition 2: to refuse or be unwilling to do some act (usu. fol. by "at").
My son tends to balk at doing any chores around the house.The Senator had done some dishonest things in the past, but he balked at accepting this bribe.
synonyms:
evade, resist, shirk, shrink from, steer clear of
similar words:
dodge, refuse, stall
definition 3: in baseball, to commit a balk.
The umpire determined that the pitcher had balked.
similar words:
fake, feint
 
part of speech: transitive verb
definition: to block the progress of; hinder; impede.
The committee's work was balked by one member's repeated objections.
synonyms:
check, frustrate, hinder, impede, stop, stymie
antonyms:
assist, forward
similar words:
bar, bilk, block, defeat, disappoint, eschew, foil, obstruct, prevent, stall, thwart
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: anything that blocks or stops forward progress; hindrance; defeat.
The president's veto was a balk to the proposed law.
synonyms:
defeat, hindrance, obstacle
similar words:
bar, check, drawback, impediment, obstruction
definition 2: in baseball, an unpermitted, usu. deceptive, motion by a pitcher with one or more runners on base.
similar words:
fake, feint
definition 3: a heavy beam or timber used in building construction.
synonyms:
beam, timber
similar words:
rafter, two-by-four
derivations: balkingly (adv.), balker (n.)