block out

English

Verb

block out (third-person singular simple present blocks out, present participle blocking out, simple past and past participle blocked out)

1. (transitive) to prevent from entering or penetrating

   High-factor suncream blocks out the sun's rays.

2. (idiomatic, transitive) to prevent (a thought) from entering one's mind.

   After finding out she had terminal cancer, she tried to block out any thoughts of her own mortality.

3. (transitive) to cover something, so as to make it impossible to see.