a hollow masonry building unit of cement, terra cotta, etc.: a wall made of concrete blocks. one of a set of cube-shaped pieces of wood, plastic, or the like, used as a child's toy in building. a mold or piece on which something is shaped or kept in shape: a hat block.
Neutral powers during World War II. The neutral powers were countries that remained neutral during World War II. Some of these countries had large colonies abroad or had great economic power.
Word Origin & History. neutral c.1449 as a noun, one who remains neutral, from M.Fr. neutral, from L. neutralis of neuter gender, from neuter (see neuter). The adj. sense of not taking sides in a fight is 1549, probably from a similar meaning in M.L. Meaning disengaged position in gear mechanisms is from 1912. Neutral corner (1952) is from boxing. One of the rights of a belligerent nation which a neutral is bound to regard, is the right of blockade.