block device

noun

An abstraction for buffered access to hardware devices, especially storage, where data is read or written in arbitrary-sized blocks.

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Meanings

nounblock device (plural block devices)

plural block devices

  1. UnixcomputingAn abstraction for buffered access to hardware devices, especially storage, where data is read or written in arbitrary-sized blocks.

    The network block device is a block device offered by Linux. It behaves as a normal block device that can be formatted with any block-based file system and mounted for use.

    2016, Joel Reardon, Secure Data Deletion, Springer, →ISBN, page 137
Cite this entry
APA

block device. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20device

MLA

“block device.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20device. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “block device,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20device.

Source: block device on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.