The table tennis stroke that sends the ball high into the air from defensive play is the lob.
A lob is usually played from farther behind the table, giving the ball a high trajectory and often significant topspin or sidespin. The defensive player uses it to buy time, change the rhythm, or force an attacking opponent to hit another difficult shot.
Lobbing is especially associated with rallies in which one player is away from the table while the opponent attacks with smashes or powerful topspin. A successful lob must combine height, depth, spin, and placement; a short or poorly controlled lob can be attacked immediately.
A block is different because it redirects an incoming attack with a compact motion close to the table. A push is a controlled backspin stroke, while a flick is a short-ball attacking stroke. These terms describe different tactical actions.