Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Blockade"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blockade \Block*ade"\, n. [Cf. It. bloccata. See {Block}, v. t.
]
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.
Note: 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.
{To raise a blockade}. See under {Raise}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blockade \Block*ade"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blockaded}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Blockading}.]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
blockade
n 1: a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the
enemy [syn: {encirclement}]
2: prevents access or progress
v 1: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His
brother blocked him at every turn" [syn: {obstruct}, {block},
{hinder}, {stymie}, {stymy}, {embarrass}]
2: render unsuitable for passage; "block the way"; "barricade
the streets" [syn: {barricade}, {block}, {block off}, {block
up}, {bar}]
3: obstruct access to [syn: {block off}]
4: impose a blockade on [syn: {seal off}]
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