brick (br?k) n. 1. a. A molded rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln until hard and used as a building and paving material. b. Such blocks of clay used as a building material: a house made of brick. c. An object shaped like such a block: a brick of cheese. d. Informal A smartphone, tablet, or similar electronic device that connects to the internet that has become inoperable. 2. A dark brownish red. 3. Informal A helpful, reliable person. 4. Basketball A shot that falls short of the basket. v. bricked, brick·ing, bricks v. tr. 1. To construct, line, or pave with bricks. 2. To close or wall with brick: bricked up the windows of the old house. 3. Informal To cause to become inoperable. Used especially of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, that connect to the internet. I bricked my smartphone when I tried to untether it. v. intr. Informal To become inoperable. Used especially of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, that connect to the internet. Idiom: drop a brick Informal To make a clumsy social error. [Middle English brike, from Middle Dutch bricke.] brick adj. brick?y adj. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.brick (br?k) n1. (Building) a. a rectangular block of clay mixed with sand and fired in a kiln or baked by the sun, used in building constructionb. (as modifier): a brick house. 2. (Building) the material used to make such blocks3. any rectangular block: a brick of ice. 4. (Building) bricks collectively5. informal a reliable, trustworthy, or helpful person6. Brit a child’s building block7. (Colours) short for brick red8. drop a brick informal Brit to make a tactless or indiscreet remark9. like a ton of bricks informal (used esp of the manner of punishing or reprimanding someone) with great force; severely: when he spotted my mistake he came down on me like a ton of bricks. vb (tr) 10. (Building) (usually foll by: in, up, or over) to construct, line, pave, fill, or wall up with bricks: to brick up a window; brick over a patio. 11. slang to attack (a person) with a brick or bricks[C15: from Old French brique, from Middle Dutch bricke; related to Middle Low German brike, Old English brecan to break]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014brick (br?k) n. 1. a block of clay hardened by drying in the sun or burning in a kiln and used for building, paving, etc. 2. such blocks collectively. 3. the material of which such blocks are made. 4. any block or bar having a similar size and shape: a gold brick. 5. Informal. an admirable person. 6. Brit. block (def. 3). v.t. 7. to pave, line, wall, fill, or build with brick. adj. 8. made of, constructed with, or resembling bricks. Idioms: 1. drop a brick, to make a social blunder, esp. an indiscreet remark. 2. hit the bricks, a. to walk the streets. b. to go on strike. [1400?50; late Middle English brike