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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
Feynman came of age during the dawn of quantum mechanics, when scientists began to recognize that atoms, electrons, light, and other sub-nanoscale objects—building blocks for everything in the universe—obey fundamentally different rules than the objects of everyday life.
—Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Adding chlorine to organic compounds helps create the building blocks of a number of important materials, including pharmaceuticals.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
The waste is broken down to its molecular building blocks through Eastman’s patented closed-loop molecular recycling technology and combined with sustainably sourced wood pulp.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2024
Amino acids are organic compounds often referred to as the building blocks of proteins.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 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 21 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
building block
noun
: a unit of construction or composition
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