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

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

a roughly squared heavy timber beam

a timber tie beam of a roof

an unploughed ridge to prevent soil erosion or mark a division on common land

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

balk in American

(bɔk ; bôk)

noun

a ridge of unplowed land between furrows

a roughly hewn piece of timber

a beam used in construction

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)

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

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'

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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)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)