Definition of adobe
1 : a brick or building material of sun-dried earth and straw
2 : a structure made of adobe bricks
3 : a heavy clay used in making adobe bricks; broadly : alluvial or playa clay in desert or arid regions
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Examples of adobe in a Sentence
The house was built of adobe.
Did You Know?
Handmade sun-dried bricks, adobes are formed from a mixture of heavy clay and straw found in dry regions. As a building material, adobes date back thousands of years and are found in many parts of the world. Molds for shaping the bricks were brought to the New World by the Spanish. Excellent insulating properties make adobes ideal material for both dwellings and ovens; home interiors retain heat in winter and stay cool in summer. The adobe buildings at Taos, New Mexico, are typical of Native American pueblo dwellings.
Illustration of adobe
Origin and Etymology of adobe
Spanish, from Arabic al-ṭūb the brick, from Coptic tōbe brick, from Egypt dbt
First Known Use: 1748
ADOBE Defined for English Language Learners
adobe
playDefinition of adobe for English Language Learners
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: a type of brick made of a mixture of mud and straw that is dried by the sun
ADOBE Defined for Kids
adobe
playDefinition of adobe for Students
1 : brick made of earth or clay dried in the sun
2 : a building made of adobe
Learn More about adobe
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See words that rhyme with adobe Spanish Central: Translation of adobe Nglish: Translation of adobe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of adobe for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adobe
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