◙ noun 1. a small rectangular block typically made or fired sun-dried clay, used in building • 砖，砖块 [mass noun] bricks collectively as a building material • 砖 »this mill was built of brick. 这个磨坊是用砖建造的。 »[as modifier] a large brick building. 一幢高大的砖楼。 a small, rectangular object • 砖形物 » a brick of ice cream. 冰砖。 [Brit.] a child's toy building block • [英] 积木 2. [Brit. informal, dated] a generous, helpful, and reliable person • [英，非正式旧] 慷慨可靠的人，乐于助人的人 »‘You are really a brick, Vi,’ Gloria said. “你真是个大好人，维，”格洛里娅说。 ◙ verb 1. [with obj.and usu. with adverbial] [常作 be bricked] block or enclose with a wall of bricks • 用砖墙围起，用砖砌起 »the doors have been bricked. 门都用砖墙封了起来。 2. (be bricking oneself)[Brit. vulgar slang] be extremely worried or nervous • [英，粗俚] 极紧张，非常担心
【IDIOMS】
◘ be built like a brick shithouse --› seeshithouse ◘ a brick short of a load --› seeshort ◘ bricks and mortar 1. buildings, typically housing • 建筑物（尤指住房） »untold acres are being buried under bricks and mortar. 数不清的土地正被用来建造房屋。 a building, typically a house, considered in terms of its value as an investment • 房产 [as modifier] used to denote a business that operates conventionally rather than (or as well as) over the Internet • （企业）按传统模式（而非通过因特网）运营的；既以传统模式又通过因特网经营的 »the bricks-and-mortar banks. 按传统模式运营的银行。 ◘ come up against (或 hit) a brick wall 1. face an insuperable problem or obstacle while trying to do something • 遇见不可克服的困难 ◘ like a ton of bricks 1. [informal] with crushing weight, force, or authority • [非正式] 具有压倒性的重量（影响或权威），势不可挡 »the FA came down on him like a ton of bricks. 足球协会以咄咄逼人之势向他兴师问罪。 ◘ you can't make bricks without straw 1. (proverb)nothing can be made or accomplished without proper or adequate material or information • [谚] 巧妇难为无米之炊
【语源】
1. late Middle English : from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch bricke, brike; probably reinforced by Old French brique; of unknown ultimate origin