adobe

/əˈdoʊbi/

/æˈdʌʊbi/

Other forms: adobes

If you've ever visited New Mexico and noticed earthy looking buildings everywhere, chances are they're made from adobe, a type of brick that's dried in the sun.

The noun adobe originates from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "the brick," which is derived from the Coptic word tube, meaning "brick." In hot, dry climates like the American Southwest, Africa, and Spain, you'll often see buildings made of adobe. The word adobe can also refer to the material that these bricks are made of. The clay, water, and straw that go into the material give the bricks a natural-looking, informal appearance.

Definitions of adobe

1. noun

   sun-dried brick used in hot dry climates
   synonyms: adobe brick

   type of:

   brick

   rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
2. noun

   the clay from which adobe bricks are made
   type of:

   clay

   a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired