building block

/ˌbɪldɪŋ blɑk/

/ˈbɪldɪŋ blɒk/

Other forms: building blocks

Definitions of building block

1. noun

   a block of material used in construction work
   types:

   ashlar

   a rectangular block of hewn stone used for building purposes

   breeze block, cinder block, clinker block

   a light concrete building block made with cinder aggregate

   headstone, key, keystone

   the central building block at the top of an arch or vault

   voussoir

   a wedge-shaped stone building block used in constructing an arch or vault

   coign, coigne, quoin

   the keystone of an arch

   type of:

   building material

   material used for constructing buildings
2. noun

   a single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else
   synonyms: unit

   types:

   chain, chemical chain

   (chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)

   couple

   (physics) something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines

   unit cell

   the smallest group of atoms or molecules whose repetition at regular intervals in three dimensions produces the lattices of a crystal

   chemical group, group, radical

   (chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule

   molecule

   (physics and chemistry) the simplest structural unit of an element or compound

   closed chain, ring

   (chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop

   dipole

   a pair of equal and opposite electric charges or magnetic poles separated by a small distance

   dipole molecule

   a molecule that is a permanent dipole

   long chain, long-chain molecule

   (chemistry) a relatively long chain of atoms in a molecule

   open chain

   a chain of atoms in a molecule whose ends are not joined to form a ring

   protein molecule

   any large molecule containing chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds

   acyl, acyl group

   any group or radical of the form RCO- where R is an organic group

   alcohol group, alcohol radical

   the chemical group -OH

   aldehyde group, aldehyde radical

   the chemical group -CHO

   alkyl, alkyl group, alkyl radical

   any of a series of univalent groups of the general formula CnH2n+1 derived from aliphatic hydrocarbons

   allyl, allyl group, allyl radical

   the univalent unsaturated organic radical C3H5; derived from propylene

   amino, amino group

   the radical -NH2

   amyl

   a hydrocarbon radical that occurs in many organic compounds

   azido group, azido radical

   the univalent group N3- derived from hydrazoic acid

   azo group, azo radical

   the bivalent group -N=N- united to two hydrocarbon groups

   benzyl, benzyl group, benzyl radical

   the univalent radical derived from toluene

   benzoyl group, benzoyl radical

   the univalent radical derived from benzoic acid

   arsenic group, cacodyl, cacodyl group, cacodyl radical

   the univalent group derived from arsine

   carbonyl group

   the bivalent radical CO

   carboxyl, carboxyl group

   the univalent radical -COOH; present in and characteristic of organic acids

   coenzyme

   a small molecule (not a protein but sometimes a vitamin) essential for the activity of some enzymes

   chromophore

   the chemical group that gives color to a molecule

   cyanide group, cyanide radical, cyano group, cyano radical

   the monovalent group -CN in a chemical compound

   EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

   a complex molecule used medically to chelate metal ions in cases of lead or heavy metal poisoning

   glyceryl

   a trivalent radical derived from glycerol by removing the three hydroxyl radicals

   hydrazo group, hydrazo radical

   the bivalent group -HNNH- derived from hydrazine

   hydroxyl, hydroxyl group, hydroxyl radical

   the monovalent group -OH in such compounds as bases and some acids and alcohols

   ketone group

   a group having the characteristic properties of ketones

   macromolecule, supermolecule

   any very large complex molecule; found only in plants and animals

   methylene, methylene group, methylene radical

   the bivalent radical CH2 derived from methane

   propyl, propyl group, propyl radical

   the monovalent organic group C3H7- obtained from propane

   butyl

   a hydrocarbon radical (C4H9)

   nitro group

   the group -NO3

   nitrite

   the radical -NO2 or any compound containing it (such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid)

   uranyl, uranyl group, uranyl radical

   the bivalent radical UO2 which forms salts with acids

   vinyl, vinyl group, vinyl radical

   a univalent chemical radical derived from ethylene

   type of:

   thing

   a separate and self-contained entity