building block

English

Noun

building block (plural building blocks)

  1. (literally) A component that is part of a larger construction, such as a brick or a stone.
    1. A block made of wood or plastic that is used as a children's toy and can be stacked or joined to form a larger structure.
  2. (figuratively) A component that is part of a larger system.
    Words are the building blocks of a language.
    Cells are the building blocks of life.
    • 2023 June 30, Marina Hyde, “The tide is coming in fast on Rishi Sunak – and it’s full of sewage”, in The Guardian‎:
      If you thought leveraged debt was bad when the Glazers did it with Manchester United, it’s possible you’ll find it even worse when water firms are holding you to a 40% bill hike if you simply want one of the essential building blocks of human life to come out of your tap.

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