Definition of the word brick

Pronunciation of vocabulary brick

bricknoun

gạch

/brɪk/

Definition of the word <b>brick</b>

Origin of the word brick

The word "brick" has its origins in Old English. The term "brycg" or "brycc" referred to a building block, likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*brukiz," meaning "ruin" or "remnant." This is related to the Proto-Indo-European root "*bher-", which signified "to bear" or "to hold". In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), the word evolved into "bric" or "brike," meaning a building stone or block. The modern English spelling "brick" emerged during the 16th century, and has since become a ubiquitous term for a small, rectangular block of clay, shale, or concrete used in construction. Over time, the meaning of the word "brick" has expanded to include various materials and building techniques, while retaining its core association with building and construction.

Vocabulary summary brick

typenoun

meaningbrick

exampleto brick up a window

meaningcake, bar, block (of soap, tea...)

meaning(slang) upright person, honest person

typeadjective

meaningbrick

exampleto brick up a window

Example of vocabulary bricknamespace

meaning

baked clay used for building walls, houses and other buildings; an individual block of this

đất sét nung dùng để xây tường, xây nhà và các công trình khác; một khối riêng lẻ của cái này

  • The school is built of brick.

    Ngôi trường được xây bằng gạch.

  • a pile of bricks

    một đống gạch

  • a brick wall

    một bức tường gạch

Extra examples:
  • He got a job at the local brick works.

    Anh ấy có được một công việc tại công trình gạch địa phương.

  • They moved the whole house, brick by brick.

    Họ đã chuyển toàn bộ ngôi nhà, từng viên gạch một.

  • They put an extra course of bricks around the pool.

    Họ đặt thêm một lớp gạch xung quanh hồ bơi.

  • We rebuilt the fireplace using salvaged bricks.

    Chúng tôi xây lại lò sưởi bằng gạch tận dụng.

  • a house of red brick

    một ngôi nhà gạch đỏ

meaning

a plastic or wooden block, used as a toy for young children to build things with

một khối nhựa hoặc gỗ, dùng làm đồ chơi cho trẻ nhỏ để xây dựng đồ vật

meaning

a friend that you can rely on when you need help

một người bạn mà bạn có thể dựa vào khi bạn cần giúp đỡ

  • Thanks for looking after the children today—you're a real brick.

    Cảm ơn vì đã chăm sóc bọn trẻ ngày hôm nay—bạn đúng là một viên gạch thực sự.

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary brick

Idioms of vocabulary brick

be banging, etc. your head against a brick wall
(informal)to keep trying to do something that will never be successful
  • Trying to reason with them was like banging my head against a brick wall.
    • be up against a brick wall
    to be unable to make any progress because there is a difficulty that stops you
    drop a brick/clanger
    (British English, informal)to say something that offends or embarrasses somebody, although you did not intend to
    like a cat on hot bricks
    very nervous
  • She was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test.
    • like a cat on a hot tin roof
    very nervous
  • She was like a cat on a hot tin roof before her driving test.
    • like a ton of bricks
    (informal)very heavily; very severely
  • Disappointment hit her like a ton of bricks.
  • They came down on him like a ton of bricks (= criticized him very severely).
    • make bricks without straw
    (British English)to try to work without the necessary material, money, information, etc.

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