brick

verb

bricked; bricking; bricks

transitive verb

1

: to close, face, or pave with bricks

—usually used with up, in, or over

brick up a doorway

brick over an opening

2

: to render (an electronic device, such as a smartphone) nonfunctional (as by accidental damage, malicious hacking, or software changes)

… those who dared hack the phone to add features … risked having it "bricked"—completely and permanently disabled—on the next automatic update …

—Jonathan Zittrain

3

basketball, informal : to miss (a shot) very badly : to throw up a brick on (a shot) (see brick entry 1 sense 6)

brick a free throw

Examples of brick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The biggest problem at first was reliability and fixability, as consumers worried that batteries would die and brick their vehicles. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026

Flashing the custom firmware could completely brick the thermostats, so Kociemba warns against using it on a thermostat that is critical for heating or cooling needs. —PC Magazine, 11 Nov. 2025

On game point, Lenny gets a clean look, right in his money spot on the court, but Lenny bricks the shot and loses the showdown. —Derek Lawrence, Vulture, 28 July 2025

Belkin’s decision to brick more of its devices is just the latest example of a broader industry blind spot. —Charles Radclyffe, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing brick

• brick-and-mortar
• brick red
• brick up
• brick wall
• clinker brick
• drop a brick

Rhymes for brick

• bick
• chick
• click
• fick
• flick
• hick
• kick
• knick
• lick
• mic
• nick
• pic

Kids Definition

brick

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrik 

1

a

plural bricks or brick : a building or paving material made from clay molded into blocks and baked

b

: a block made of brick

2

: a block shaped like a brick

a brick of ice cream

3

: a semisoft mild-flavored cheese

4

: a badly missed shot in basketball

brick

2 of 2 verb

1

: to close, face, or pave with bricks

2

: to cause (an electronic device) to become nonfunctional (as by damage, hacking, or software changes)