adobe

American  

[uh-doh-bee] / əˈdoʊ bi /

noun

1. sun-dried brick made of clay and straw, in common use in countries having little rainfall.

2. a yellow silt or clay, deposited by rivers, used to make bricks.

3. a building constructed of adobe.

4. a dark, heavy soil, containing clay.

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adobe British  

/ əˈdəʊbɪ /

noun

1. 1. a sun-dried brick used for building

   2. ( as modifier )

      an adobe house

2. a building constructed of such bricks

3. the clayey material from which such bricks are made

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Etymology

Origin of adobe

1750–60; < Spanish < Arabic al-ṭub the brick < Coptic to:o:be brick < Egyptian Demotic tb < Egyptian Hieroglyphic ḏbt

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Eventually, however, the lush commons became something like adobe hills.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025

Last Sunday, though, the family took a second tour of an adobe home in South Pasadena.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025

Today, the two-story adobe residence is a local, state and national historic landmark offering year-round exhibitions, educational programs and cultural events that explore the many identities of the West.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

Hackman was a lover of the arts and a painter himself, so he fit in well: Santa Fe is known for its iconic adobe architecture and is home to more than 250 galleries.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025

They came around a corner and Rowan saw their destination: some sort of compound made to look like an old adobe mission, completely out of place in the cold of MidMerica.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman