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Definition of 'balk'

Word Frequency

balk

(bɔːlk , US bɔːk ) also baulk
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense balks , present participle balking , past tense, past participle balked
verb
If you balk at something, you definitely do not want to do it or to let it happen.
Even biology undergraduates may balk at animal experiments. [VERB + at]
Last October the bank balked, alarmed that a $24m profit had turned into a $20m deficit. [VERB]
Synonyms: recoil, resist, hesitate, dodge   More Synonyms of balk
More Synonyms of balk
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

balk in British

or baulk (bɔːk , bɔːlk )
verb
1. (intransitive; usually foll by at)
to stop short, esp suddenly or unexpectedly; jib
the horse balked at the jump
2. (intransitive; foll by at)
to turn away abruptly; recoil
he balked at the idea of murder
3. (transitive)
to thwart, check, disappoint, or foil
he was balked in his plans
4. (transitive)
to avoid deliberately
he balked the question
5. (transitive)
to miss unintentionally
noun
6. 
a roughly squared heavy timber beam
7. 
a timber tie beam of a roof
8. 
an unploughed ridge to prevent soil erosion or mark a division on common land
9. 
an obstacle; hindrance; disappointment
10. baseball
an illegal motion by a pitcher towards the plate or towards the base when there are runners on base, esp without delivering the ball
See also baulk
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
balker (ˈbalker) or baulker (ˈbaulker)
  noun
Word origin of 'balk'
Old English balca; related to Old Norse bálkr partition, Old High German balco beam
Word Frequency

balk in American

(bɔk ; bôk)
noun
1. 
a ridge of unplowed land between furrows
2. 
a roughly hewn piece of timber
3. 
a beam used in construction
4. 
something that obstructs or thwarts; check, hindrance, disappointment, etc.
5.  Obsolete
a blunder; error
6.  Baseball
an illegal motion by the pitcher, such as an uncompleted motion to throw to a base, while one foot is on the rubber: it entitles each base runner to advance one base
7.  Billiards
any of the outer spaces between the cushions and the balkline
verb transitive
8.  Obsolete
to make balks in (land)
9. 
to obstruct or thwart; foil
10.  Archaic
to miss or let slip by
11.  Baseball
to force (a base runner to score from third base) by committing a balk
verb intransitive
12. 
to stop and obstinately refuse to move or act
13. 
to hesitate or recoil (at)
14. 
to make a balk in baseball
SIMILAR WORDS:  ˈfrusˌtrate
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
balker (ˈbalker)
  noun
Word origin of 'balk'
ME balke < OE balca, a bank, ridge < IE *bhelg- (extended stem of *bhel-, a beam) > Ger balken, beam, Gr phalanx, L fulcrum

Example sentences containing 'balk'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
MPs may balk at an eviction notice. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The price reduction comes after investors balked at the higher valuation. Times, Sunday Times (2010)These shoppers have either remained undecided or simply balked at the price. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Some people have lost their jobs and others balked at his idea of having only two national centres. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Your husband may balk at the idea of counselling because it is not something men of his generation generally value. Times, Sunday Times (2013)But motorists balk at the idea. Times, Sunday Times (2012)He approached one university that balked at the idea of partnering with Founder. Times, Sunday Times (2015)You may balk at the cost of your highlights, but there are far more preposterously priced haircuts going on. Times, Sunday Times (2009)I can understand why audiences may balk at the symmetry of the plot and the serendipity of the cast. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Some may balk at the frivolous approach to taking drugs, but few series are as vocal in their celebration of youthful individuality. Times, Sunday Times (2011)They practically balked at the idea that I might have some abnormal obstruction to recognition. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Clients balk at the price, but usually come back after shopping around, he says. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Or, if the price makes you balk, at least have afternoon tea to drink in the atmosphere. Times, Sunday Times (2007)We say I balked at the price, but what results! Times, Sunday Times (2012)Fresh research suggests that, while people will happily put up with voluntary restrictions on movement, they balk at the idea of compulsory quarantine. Times, Sunday Times (2006)

Word Lists

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Trends of 'balk'

Used Occasionally. balk is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'balk'

British English: balk VERB
If you balk at something, you definitely do not want to do it or to let it happen.
They balked at the cost of renovations.
  • American English: balk
  • Brazilian Portuguese: empacar
  • Chinese: 畏缩
  • European Spanish: rehusar
  • French: regimber
  • German: zurückschrecken
  • Italian: tirarsi indietro
  • Japanese: しり込みする
  • Korean: 꺼리다
  • European Portuguese: mostrar relutância
  • Spanish: rehusar

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Nearby words of 'balk'

  • Baliol
  • balisaur
  • balise
  • balk
  • balk ring
  • Balkan
  • Balkan Mountains

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'B'

Related Terms of 'balk'

  • balk ring

Source

Definition of balk from the Collins English Dictionary

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Scrabble score for 'balk': 10
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