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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
Rosetta caught whiffs of glycine, one of the amino acid building blocks of proteins.
—Elise Cutts, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024
Just a few spoonfuls of flavorful cocoa (or, in some versions, a couple of tidy squares of baking chocolate) turn this cake a pale, ruddy brown, the same color as the building blocks of brown stone building facades, thus its name.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
Protein is made of amino acid building blocks that are involved in the growth and maintenance of every tissue and structure within the body, including muscles, bones, skin, nails, and hair.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024
There’s also a dose of arginine, an important amino acid that’s one of the key building blocks of collagen.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 19 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1756, in the meaning defined above
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 25 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
building block
noun
: a unit of construction or composition
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