brick
noun
[ brɪk ]
• a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.
• a large and relatively heavy mobile phone, typically an early model with limited functionality.
• "I had one of those Motorola bricks as my first cell phone"
• a generous, helpful, and reliable person.
• "‘You are really a brick, Vi,’ Gloria said"
brick
verb
• block or enclose with a wall of bricks.
• "the doors have been bricked up"
• throw bricks at.
• "the pub was attacked and windows in the area were bricked"
• cause (a smartphone or other electronic device) to become completely unable to function, typically on a permanent basis.
• "installing an unofficial OS voids the warranty and may brick the phone"
• be extremely worried or nervous.
Origin:
late Middle English: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch bricke, brike ; probably reinforced by Old French brique ; of unknown ultimate origin.
brick by brick
• a little bit at a time.
• "he built IBM brick by brick from an agglomeration of small enterprises"
bricks and mortar
• buildings, typically housing.
• "untold acres are being buried under bricks and mortar"
