adobe
UK: əˈdəʊbi | US: əˈdoʊbi
n. 1. A type of clay used as a building material, typically sun-dried into bricks.
n. 2. A structure or brick made from this material.
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The word "adobe" originates from Spanish, borrowed from the Arabic "الطوب" (al-ṭūb), meaning "the bricks." This term traces further back to the ancient Egyptian word "ḏbt" (mud brick). The word entered English through Spanish colonization of the Americas, where indigenous and Spanish building techniques merged. Unlike compound words, "adobe" retains its indivisible form as a loanword, reflecting its cultural transmission rather than morphemic construction.
The pueblo was constructed entirely of adobe.
They mixed straw into the adobe to strengthen the bricks.
Adobe architecture is well-suited to arid climates.
The artist used adobe to sculpt traditional figurines.
Modern builders sometimes stabilize adobe with cement for durability.