brush Hear it!

brush¹ Definition

brush (brus̸h)

noun

  1. brushwood
  2. ☆ sparsely settled country, covered with wild scrub growth
    1. a device having bristles, hairs, or wires fastened into a hard back, with or without a handle attached: brushes are used for cleaning, polishing, painting, smoothing the hair, etc.
    2. a device of wires attached in a fanlike spread to a handle, used as on drums or cymbals for a swishing or muted effect
  4. the act of brushing
  5. a light, grazing stroke a brush of the hand
  6. brushwork
  7. a bushy tail, esp. that of a fox
  8. ☆ Slang brushoff
  9. Elec.
    1. a piece, plate, rod, or bundle of carbon, copper, etc. used as a conductor between an external circuit and a revolving part, as in a motor
    2. brush discharge

Etymology: ME brushe < OFr broce, brosse, bush, brushwood < VL *bruscia < Gmc *bruskaz, underbrush: for IE base see breast

transitive verb

  1. to use a brush on; clean, polish, paint, smooth, etc. with a brush
  2. to apply, spread, remove, etc. with a stroke or strokes as of a brush
  3. to go over lightly, as with a brush
  4. to touch or graze in passing

intransitive verb

to move so as to push lightly aside, skim, or graze past something

brush¹ Idioms

brush aside

or brush away
  1. to sweep out of the way
  2. to dismiss from consideration

brush off

☆ Slang

to dismiss or get rid of abruptly or rudely

brush up

  1. to make neat or presentable
  2. to refresh one's memory or skill: often with on to brush up on one's French
brush² Definition

brush (brus̸h)

intransitive verb

to hurry

Etymology: ME bruschen, rush < ? OFr brosser, to travel (? through woods), beat underbrush for game: see brush

noun

a short, quick fight, skirmish, etc. a brush with the law

brush Synonyms

brush

n.

  1. A brushing instrument] Common types of brushes include: bristle, fiber, wire, nail, clothes, camel's hair, hydraulic, rotary, paint, tooth, scrubbing, bottle, floor, hair, bath, dust;

  2. A touch

    rub, tap, stroke, graze; see touch 2.

  3. A light encounter

    skirmish, scrap, patrol action; see battle 1, fight 1.

  4. Underbrush

    thicket, boscage, undergrowth, second growth, chaparral, cover, brushwood, shrubbery, canebrake, grove, hedge, underwood, gorse, bracken, sedge, scrub, copse, coppice, spinney, dingle, brake; see also bush 1.

  5. *The act of ignoring

    cut, slight, rebuff, brushoff*; see insult, rudeness.

brush Synonyms

brush

v.

  1. To clean by brushing

    sweep, whisk, wipe; see clean.

  2. To touch lightly

    stroke, smooth, graze; see touch.

brush Usage Examples

Object

  • aluminum: It's got a professional quality which is matched only by brushed aluminum.
  • tooth: Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized.

Converse of object

  • scrub: You can cement up with a scrubbing brush on the external side, then clean off with a rag.
  • bristle: With more delicate constructions, we employ sponges and soft bristled brushes to gently groom the face fiber and allow a gentle cleaning action.

Adjective modifier

  • stiff: The cleaning operation must leave no residues on the cleaned surface and any wet storage staining should be removed using a stiff brush.
  • interdental: Some people find it easier to use interdental brushes rather than floss.
  • soft: Use a soft brush to groom your ferrets ' coat.

Modifies a noun

  • stroke: His gesture inspired the next bit of art: all brush strokes made in the finished piece are in the shape of a cross.
  • cutter: Again the hover or brush cutter machines are ideal for these areas.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • aside: Yet these nuances have been brushed aside by a Pentagon in its efforts to present the image of broad support.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • aside: Brighton council has brushed aside this dowdy image for its new central library.

Preposition: under

  • carpet: Whenever I do bring up points for debate, they are brushed under the carpet, as silly, or middle england.

Preposition: with

  • toothpaste: It is important to brush with a fluoride toothpaste and keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes only.
  • marinade: Cook, turning at least once for 10-12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, brushing occasionally with reserved marinade.

Noun used with modifier

  • bristle: Price: £ 1.99 Dog Toothbrush A soft bristle brush for cleaning your dogs teeth.
  • shaving: Old-fashioned bristle shaving brush; shaving bowl; cut throat razor; base-metal pocket watch.
  • sable: Ceramic and glass objects can be dusted using a soft sable brush, holding the object with one hand.
  • paint: A paint brush of white glowing across the floor.
  • wire: With the cylinder head off, the pistons were cleaned of any carbon deposits using a wire cup brush on a drill.
  • easy-to-fix: Exterior doors: To eliminate drafts and wasted heat use an easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors.
brush Quotes

But where dothey find these lines innature? Personally I only see forms that are lit up and forms that are not, planes which advance and planes which recede, relief and depth. My eye never sees outlines or particular features ordetails.I donot count thehairs in the beard of the man who passes byany more than the buttonholes on his jacket attract my notice. My brush should not see better than I do.

—Goya, Francisco de

What should I do with your strong, manly, spirited sketches, full of variety and glow?öHow could I possibly jointhemontothe littlebit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour?

—Austen,Jane