balk
/bɔːk/
verb
- To hesitate or refuse to do something, often because it is difficult or unpleasant.
- The horse balked when it saw the fence.
- She balked at the idea of jumping out of an airplane.
- He balked at paying such a high price for a used car.
- To stop short and refuse to go forward (used especially of a horse).
- The mule balked in the middle of the trail, refusing to take another step.
- The rider tried to urge the horse forward, but it balked again.
- The horse balked at the starting gate and wouldn't move.
noun
- A situation in which someone hesitates or refuses to do something.
- The project faced a balk when the funding was suddenly cut.
- There was a balk in the negotiations when neither side would compromise.
- His balk at the proposal surprised everyone in the meeting.
- In baseball, an illegal motion by the pitcher that allows base runners to advance.
- The pitcher was called for a balk, and the runner moved to second base.
- A balk can happen if the pitcher fakes a throw to first base.
- The coach argued that the balk call was unfair.
- A roughly squared beam of wood.
- The carpenter cut the balk into smaller planks.
- The old barn was built with heavy oak balks.
- They used a balk of timber to support the roof.