balk
verb/bɔːk/
/bɔːk/
(also baulk especially in British English)
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they balk | /bɔːk/ /bɔːk/ |
| he / she / it balks | /bɔːks/ /bɔːks/ |
| past simple balked | /bɔːkt/ /bɔːkt/ |
| past participle balked | /bɔːkt/ /bɔːkt/ |
| -ing form balking | /ˈbɔːkɪŋ/ /ˈbɔːkɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] balk (at something) to be unwilling to do something or become involved in something because it is difficult, dangerous, etc.
- Many parents may balk at the idea of paying $100 for a pair of shoes.
- He balked for a moment. ‘I can’t afford it,’ he finally admitted.
- [intransitive] balk (at something) (of a horse) to stop suddenly and refuse to jump a fence, etc.
- [transitive, usually passive] balk somebody (of something) (formal) to prevent somebody from getting something or doing something
- She looked like a lion balked of its prey.
Check pronunciation:
balk