Word: brick Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Late Middle English brik, bryke, bricke, from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch bricke ("cracked or broken brick; tile-stone"; modern Dutch brik), ultimately related to Proto-West Germanic *brekan (“to break”), whence also Old French briche and French brique (“brick”). Compare also German Low German Brickje (“small board, tray”). Related to break. The social media slang sense derives from memes about building up one's feed “brick by brick”, analogizing bricks with reels that inform the algorithm. Pronunciation: /ˈbɹɪk/, /ˈbɹɘk/ 1. A hardened rectangular block of mud, clay etc., used for building. Labels: countable Example: This wall is made of bricks. 2. Such hardened mud, clay, etc. considered collectively, as a building material. Labels: uncountable Example: This house is made of brick. Example: They gather one by one, trickling into the shady courtyard, the familiar hum of Mass. Ave. wafting in from behind brick buildings and iron gates. 3. Something shaped like a brick. Labels: countable Example: a plastic explosive brick 4. The colour brick red. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The handyman considered the question and I knew she had a brick of ground beans in her bag but was considering whether the beds and a hot drink was worth a brick of coffee. Example: He disentangled himself from the safe door and delved inside. He brought out a brick of banknotes. 5. A helpful and reliable person. Labels: countable, dated, slang, uncountable Example: Thanks for helping me wash the car. You’re a brick. Example: “It's easy to see you're a brick!” replied Lady Augusta, and the laugh again became general. 6. A shot which misses, particularly one which bounces directly out of the basket because of a too-flat trajectory, as if the ball were a heavier object. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: See also: put up a brick Example: We can't win if we keep throwing up bricks from three-point land. 7. A power brick; an external power supply consisting of a small box with an integral male plug and an attached cord terminating in another plug. Labels: countable, informal, uncountable 8. An electronic device, especially a heavy box-shaped one, that has become non-functional or obsolete. Labels: countable, figuratively, slang, uncountable 9. A projectile. Labels: UK, countable, slang, uncountable Example: I was on deck watching the firing, and looking at the direction in which our guns were pointing, it was obvious that it was not going to be Centurion who was going to receive our bricks. 10. A carton of 500 rimfire cartridges, which forms the approximate size and shape of a brick. Labels: countable, uncountable 11. A community card (usually the turn or the river) which does not improve a player's hand. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: The two of clubs was a complete brick on the river. 12. A card in a player's hand that is currently unplayable. Labels: countable, uncountable 13. A kilogram of cocaine. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: I can sell bricks, I don't need to rap / Buj so peng it makes the fiends collapse / Cook that coca into crack / I was selling Zs while you was in your bed 14. A trans woman who does not pass. Labels: countable, derogatory, offensive, uncountable Example: Was she like you—a brick, never passed, never gonna? Example: In the world of drag, “brick” is a shady word, slang lobbed at queens whose makeup looks busted, whose wardrobes have seen better days, or who are just generally giving hot mess. 15. A reel or short video. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: I built up this feed brick by brick. Example: OK, you can have this brick back, I don't want it 16. Any of species Agrochola circellaris of moths of Europe and Asia Minor. Labels: countable, uncountable 17. A brick phone. Labels: countable, uncountable