balk
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
1
balk
verb
balks;
balked;
balking
1
balk
verb
balks;
balked;
balking
Britannica Dictionary definition of BALK
[no object]
1
:
to suddenly show that you do not want to do something
:
to refuse to do what someone else wants you to do
— often + at
-
If this witness balks [=refuses to cooperate in court], our lawyers will not have enough evidence to win the case.
-
The public balked at the President's new tax plan.
-
He balks at sending his children to expensive private schools. [=he won't send his children to expensive private schools]
2
a
of a horse, mule, etc.
:
to stop quickly and refuse to continue going
-
The horse balked and would not jump the fence.
b
of an engine
:
to fail to work in the usual or expected way
-
I turned the key, but the car's engine balked. [=refused to start]
3
baseball, of a pitcher
:
to stop suddenly after starting to throw a pitch
:
to commit a balk
-
The runner on third base tried to make the pitcher balk.
2
balk
/ˈbɑːk/
noun
plural
balks
2
balk
/ˈbɑːk/
noun
plural
balks
Britannica Dictionary definition of BALK
[count]
baseball
:
an occurrence in which a pitcher stops suddenly or makes an illegal movement after starting to throw a pitch
-
He committed a balk.
◊ A pitcher can only commit a balk if there is a runner on first base, second base, or third base. When a balk occurs, the runner is allowed to go to the next base.
