bricks - Master This Word
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bricks Word Meanings
- A small rectangular block used for building.
- A hard, durable material made from clay or shale.
- Something solid or reliable.
bricks Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
bricks Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/brɪk/
US
/brɪk/
bricks Word Etymology
Root decomposition: brick = brik (Old English). Historical origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Memory image: Imagine stacking red bricks to build a sturdy wall, a symbol of strength and reliability.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I pick up a brick and move it from the pile toward my sketch table. I set my stance, adjust my fingers, and push against its weight until it sits solid in my hand. The cool, rough surface answers with quiet resistance, and I feel a small sense of control. When I place it on the wall, the idea of something sturdy and reliable begins to take shape in my mind.
Real Context
Brick refers to both the small rectangular blocks used in building and the durable material made from clay or shale that forms walls and facades. It can describe the bricks themselves, as in 'red brick,' or, in a broader sense, something solid and reliable, as in 'a brick of a person' (informal). In everyday language you’ll encounter phrases like brick wall, brick-and-mortar stores, and brick house. Learners often mix up brick with stone or block and forget that brick is countable: one brick, many bricks. Also note the color phrase 'brick red,' and the related terms bricklaying and bricklayer. Visualizing a stack of red bricks helps anchor its meanings.
Usage Reminders
- • remember brick is countable: one brick, many bricks
- • use brick in compounds: brick wall, brick house, brick-red color
- • distinguish brick as material vs color phrase brick red
- • learn related terms: bricklayer, bricklaying, brickwork
- • practice pronunciation: /brɪk/ with short i and clear t
Common Misconceptions
- Brick is only a color (brick red) rather than a material or unit used in construction
- A house can be simply called 'a brick' instead of 'a brick house' or 'a house made of brick'
- Confusing brick with stone or block in everyday descriptions
- Using brick as a verb or misusing related terms like 'brick up' without context
- Forgetting bricks are countable: one brick vs bricks
Thinking Differences
English tends to divide brick into a countable building unit (one brick) and a material descriptor (brick walls, brick red). Learners often treat 'brick' as a color or as a synonym for stone, and may mispronounce or confuse related terms like bricklayer or brickwork.
Learning Tips
- Remember brick is countable: one brick, many bricks
- Use brick in constructions: brick wall, brick house
- Know brick red as color, not every red is brick red
- Learn related terms: bricklayer, bricklaying, brickwork
- Practice pronunciation: short i in brick, clear /t/ in wall
- Explore phrases like brick-and-mortar to contrast with online
Related Listening
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