Word Meanings - BALK - Book Publishers vocabulary database

One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge. 4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check. A balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker. South. 5. A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure. (more info)

Additional info about word: BALK

One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge. 4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check. A balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker. South. 5. A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure. (more info) bjalki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside. Bad plowmen made balks of such ground. Fuller. 2. A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called "the balks." Tubs hanging in the balks. Chaucer.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of BALK)

• Bailie
• Frustrate
• counteract
• disconcert
• elude
• mock
• thwart
• confound
• defeat
• perplex
• restrain
• upset
• foil
• mar
• balk
• neutralize
• dodge
• counterfoil

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of BALK)

• Secure
• promote
• insure
• speed
• advance
• establish
• aid

Related words: (words related to BALK)

• SPECTACLE
  An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light. 4. pl. (more info) 1. Something exhibited to view; usually,
• SPERMATOCYTE
  See SPERMOBLAST
• SPECIFICNESS
  The quality or state of being specific.
• SPERMATIC
  Of or pertaining to semen; as, the spermatic fluid, the spermatic vessels, etc. Spermatic cord , the cord which suspends the testicle within the scrotum. It is made up of a connective tissue sheath inclosing the spermatic duct and accompanying
• COUNTERACTIVE
  Tending to counteract.
• SPERMATICAL
  Spermatic.
• CONFOUNDED
  1. Confused; perplexed. A cloudy and confounded philosopher. Cudworth. 2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. He was a most confounded tory. Swift. The tongue of that confounded woman. Sir. W. Scott.
• SPECTROGRAPH
  An apparatus for photographing or mapping a spectrum. A photograph or picture of a spectrum. -- Spec`tro*graph"ic , a. --Spec`tro*graph"ic*al*ly , adv. --Spec*trog"ra*phy , n.
• NEUTRALIZE
  To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to neutralize an acid with a base. 3. To destroy the peculiar or opposite dispositions of; to reduce to a state of indifference
• SPECK
  The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus. Speck falls , falls or ropes rove through blocks for hoisting the blubber and bone of whales on board a whaling vessel.
• RESTRAINABLE
  Capable of being restrained; controllable. Sir T. Browne.
• SPECTATORSHIP
  1. The office or quality of a spectator. Addison. 2. The act of beholding. Shak.
• SPECE
  Species; kind. Chaucer.
• UPSETTING
  Conceited; assuming; as, an upsetting fellow. Jamieson.
• SPEECHLESS
  1. Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech. 2. Not speaking for a time; dumb; mute; silent. Speechless with wonder, and half dead with fear. Addison. -- Speech"less*ly, adv. -- Speech"less*ness, n.
• SPENDTHRIFT
  One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes or wastes his estate. Also used figuratively. A woman who was a generous spendthrift of life. Mrs. R. H. Davis.
• SPEED COUNTER
  A device for automatically counting the revolutions or pulsations of an engine or other machine; -- called also simply counter.
• SPENCE
  despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. See 1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry. Chiefly Brit. dial. In . . . his spence, or "pantry" were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately
• SPERMATOZOOID
  A spermatozoid.
• SPERGE
  A charge of wash for the still. Knight.
• ASPER
  Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. "An asper sound." Bacon.
• ANGIOMONOSPERMOUS
  Producing one seed only in a seed pod.
• PRELUDE
  An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially , a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with
• DISPENSE
  1. To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give; as, the steward dispenses provisions according directions; Nature dispenses her bounties; to dispense medicines. He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company. Sir W. Scott. 2.
• MISPENSE
  See HALL
• OOSPERM; OOESPERM
  The ovum, after fusion with the spermatozoön in impregnation. Balfour.
• INDISPENSABLENESS
  The state or quality of being indispensable, or absolutely necessary. S. Clarke.
• UNPERPLEX
  To free from perplexity. Donne.
• SUSPENSORY
  Of or pertaining to a suspensorium. (more info) 1. Suspended; hanging; depending. 2. Fitted or serving to suspend; suspending; as, a suspensory muscle. Ray.
• DISPERSION
  The separation of light into its different colored rays, arising from their different refrangibilities. Dispersion of the optic axes , the separation of the optic axes in biaxial crystals, due to the fact that the axial angle has different values
• JASPERATED
  mixed with jasper; containing particles of jasper; as, jasperated agate.
• DISRESPECTABILITY
  Want of respectability. Thackeray.