NYT Dictionary

ADOBE

/əˈdoʊ.bi/
Nouna-DO-bea-do-be · 3 syllablesGrade 7

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2026

Meaning

An unburnt brick dried in the sun.

Etymology

Origin: Spanish

Etymology tree Egyptian ḏbt Demotic Egyptian tb Coptic ⲧⲱⲃⲉ (tōbe)der. Arabic طُوبَة (ṭūba) Andalusian Arabic طُوبَة Andalusian Arabic طُوبder. Spanish adobebor. English adobe From Spanish adobe, from Arabic اَلطُّوب (aṭ-ṭūb), from Sahidic Coptic ⲧⲱⲃⲉ (tōbe, “brick”), from Demotic Egyptian ⁠⁠ (tb, “brick”), from Egyptian Db-b-t:O39 (ḏbt, “brick, block, ingot”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

dobemudbrickashlarbiscuitbisquebowlbrickcementceramicschina

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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