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brush

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To brush is defined as to use a tool with bristles or to quickly sweep something with the hand.

(noun)

An example of a brush is a tool for getting knots out of hair.
An example of a brush is a sweep of the hand across a table to remove crumbs.

The definition of a brush is a tool with bristles on a handle, the process of using such a tool or the act of lightly sweeping something.

(verb)

An example of brush is to smooth hair with a hair brush.
An example of brush is to quickly rub crumbs off a dress.

See brush in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

brushwood
☆ 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
the act of brushing
a light, grazing stroke: a brush of the hand
brushwork
a bushy tail, esp. that of a fox
☆ Slang brushoff
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

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

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

intransitive verb

to hurry

Origin: 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

See brush in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A device consisting of bristles fastened into a handle, used in scrubbing, polishing, or painting.
b. The act of using this device.
A light touch in passing; a graze.
An instance of contact with something undesirable or dangerous: a brush with the law; a brush with death.
A bushy tail: the brush of a fox.
A sliding connection completing a circuit between a fixed and a moving conductor.
A snub; a brushoff.

verb brushed, brush·ing, brush·es

verb, transitive

a. To clean, polish, or groom with a brush.
b. To apply with or as if with motions of a brush.
c. To remove with or as if with motions of a brush.
To dismiss abruptly or curtly: brushed the matter aside; brushed an old friend off.
To touch lightly in passing; graze against.

verb, intransitive

To use or apply a brush.
To move past something so as to touch it lightly.

Phrasal Verbs: brush back Baseball To force (a batter) to move away from the plate by throwing an inside pitch. brush up To refresh one's memory. To renew a skill.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English brusshe

Origin: , from Old French brosse, brushwood, brush; see brush²

Related Forms: