balk: to refuse abruptly
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Detailed Definition:
noun
- a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness
- a hindrance
- a ridge between furrows
- a wooden beam or rafter
- failure of a player to complete a motion, especially an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position
intransitive verb
- to refuse abruptly [is used with 'at'] (e.g. He balked at putting up the promised money)
- to stop and refuse to proceed
- to commit a balk in sports
transitive verb
- to check or stop by or as if by an obstacle
