brick
word
Definition
A brick is a hard rectangular block used for building walls, houses, and other structures. It can also refer to something shaped like a brick or, informally, a heavy or useless electronic device that no longer works.
Usage & Nuances
Most commonly a countable noun in construction: 'a brick', 'brick wall', 'red brick house'. As a material adjective, English often uses 'brick' before another noun: 'brick building'. Informally in tech, 'to brick' a device means to make it unusable, and 'a brick' can describe the dead device itself.
Example Sentences
He picked up a brick from the ground.
basic
The house has a red brick wall.
basic
They built the school with bricks.
basic
After the repair failed, my laptop was basically a brick.
natural
Be careful with that old phone—one bad update and it could turn into a brick.
natural
The summer heat bounced off the brick buildings downtown.
natural