balk

Other spellings

• (UK) baulk

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /bɔːk/ or /bɔːlk/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /bɔk/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

Singular balk

Plural balks

1. (countable) A balk is a squared timber.
2. (billiards) The balk is an area of the table that is behind the line from which the cue ball is initially shot.

Verb

Plain form balk

Third-person singular balks

Past tense balked

Past participle balked

Present participle balking

1. When a person balks, they hesitate or show unwillingness towards an idea or solution.