BALK
Dictionary entry overview: What does balk mean?
• BALK (noun)
The noun BALK has 4 senses:
1. the area on a billiard table behind the balkline
2. something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
3. one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
4. an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base
Familiarity information: BALK used as a noun is uncommon.
• BALK (verb)
The verb BALK has 1 sense:
1. refuse to comply
Familiarity information: BALK used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• BALK (noun)
Meaning:
The area on a billiard table behind the balkline
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Synonyms:
baulk; balk
Context example:
a player with ball in hand must play from the balk
Hypernyms ("balk" is a kind of...):
area; expanse; surface area (the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary)
Holonyms ("balk" is a part of...):
billiard table; pool table; snooker table (game equipment consisting of a heavy table on which pool is played)
Meaning:
Something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
impediment; hindrance; hinderance; deterrent; baulk; balk; handicap; check
Hypernyms ("balk" is a kind of...):
difficulty (a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "balk"):
albatross; millstone ((figurative) something that hinders or handicaps)
bind (something that hinders as if with bonds)
diriment impediment ((canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage))
drag (something that slows or delays progress)
obstacle; obstruction (something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted)
straitjacket (anything immaterial that severely hinders or confines)
Meaning:
One of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
rafter; balk; baulk
Hypernyms ("balk" is a kind of...):
beam (long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction)
Meaning:
An illegal pitching motion while runners are on base
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("balk" is a kind of...):
delivery; pitch ((baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter)
• BALK (verb)
Meaning:
Refuse to comply
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
balk; baulk; jib; resist
Hypernyms (to "balk" is one way to...):
disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
