brɪk n.,
v., & adj. --n. 1 a a
small, usu.
rectangular,
block of fired or sun-dried
clay, used in
building. b
the material used to
make these. c a
similar block of
concrete etc. 2
Brit. a child's
toy building-block. 3 a brick-shaped
solid object (a brick of ice-cream). 4 sl. a
generous or
loyal person. --v.tr. (foll. by
in, up) close or block
with brickwork. --adj. 1
built of brick (brick wall). 2 of a
dull red colour. øbang (or
knock or run) one's
head against a brick
wall attempt the
impossible. brick-field a
place at
which bricks are
made. brick-red the colour of bricks. like a
load (or ton) of bricks colloq. with crushing
weight, force, or
authority. see
through a brick wall
have miraculous insight. øøbricky adj. [ME f. MLG, MDu. bri(c)ke, of unkn. orig.]