building block
noun
: a unit of construction or composition
especially
: something essential on which a larger entity is based
Synonyms
Examples of building block in a Sentence
historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies
Recent Examples on the Web
The trouble is that their elementary building blocks, called qubits, are exceedingly sensitive to disturbance from the outside world.
—
Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
As the backbone of American commerce, formaldehyde is a workhorse in major sectors of the economy, preserving bodies in funeral homes, binding particleboards in furniture and serving as a building block in plastic.
—Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Editor's tip: Green microalgae and shiitake mushrooms team up to support your skin’s natural building blocks, like collagen and elastin, helping to keep it firm and elastic.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024
This set stands out as a squishy alternative to traditional building blocks and Legos.
—Theresa Holland, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for building block 
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Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
As the backbone of American commerce, formaldehyde is a workhorse in major sectors of the economy, preserving bodies in funeral homes, binding particleboards in furniture and serving as a building block in plastic.
—Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Editor's tip: Green microalgae and shiitake mushrooms team up to support your skin’s natural building blocks, like collagen and elastin, helping to keep it firm and elastic.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024
This set stands out as a squishy alternative to traditional building blocks and Legos.
—Theresa Holland, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for building block
Dictionary Entries Near building block
Cite this Entry
“Building block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/building%20block. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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