balk
/bɔːk/
/bɔːk/
(especially North American English) (British English usually baulk)
- [intransitive] balk (at something) to be unwilling to do something or become involved in something because it is difficult, dangerous, etc.Topics Difficulty and failurec2
- [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