Brush definition
To clean, polish, or groom with a brush.
Brush one's teeth; brush the dog's coat.
verb
Sparsely settled country, covered with wild scrub growth.
noun
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.
An example of brush is to smooth hair with a hair brush.
An example of brush is to quickly rub crumbs off a dress.
verb
To brush is defined as to use a tool with bristles or to quickly sweep something with the hand.
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.
noun
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A snub; a brushoff.
noun
An implement typically consisting of bristles fastened into a handle, used in scrubbing, polishing, grooming, or applying a liquid.
noun
The act of using this implement.
noun
A sweeping stroke of the hand, as in removing something.
noun
A light touch in passing; a graze.
noun
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An instance of contact with something undesirable or dangerous.
A brush with the law; a brush with death.
noun
To remove with a brush or with sweeping strokes.
Brushed dirt from his pants.
verb
To use a brush.
verb
To make sweeping strokes with the hand.
verb
To touch something lightly in moving past.
verb
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Cut or broken branches.
noun
Dense vegetation consisting of shrubs or small trees.
noun
Land covered by such a growth.
noun
The act of brushing.
noun
A light, grazing stroke.
A brush of the hand.
noun
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A bushy tail, esp. that of a fox.
noun
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.
noun
A device of wires attached in a fanlike spread to a handle, used as on drums or cymbals for a swishing or muted effect.
noun
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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.
noun
To use a brush on; clean, polish, paint, smooth, etc. with a brush.
verb
To apply, spread, remove, etc. with a stroke or strokes as of a brush.
verb
To go over lightly, as with a brush.
verb
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To touch or graze in passing.
verb
To hurry.
verb
A short, quick fight, skirmish, etc.
A brush with the law.
noun
A piece of conductive material, usually carbon, serving to maintain electrical contact between the stationary and rotating parts of a machine.
noun
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The act of brushing something.
She gave her hair a quick brush.
noun
A short and sometimes occasional encounter or experience.
He has had brushes with communism from time to time.
noun
(archaic) A short contest, or trial, of speed.
noun
(video games) In 3D video games, a convex polyhedron, especially one that defines structure of the play area.
noun
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A bushy tail.
The brush of a fox.
noun
A sliding connection completing a circuit between a fixed and a moving conductor.
noun
To dismiss abruptly or curtly.
Brushed the matter aside; brushed an old friend off.
verb
To touch lightly in passing; graze against.
verb
To apply with a brush.
Brushed shellac onto the wood.
verb
To move so as to push lightly aside, skim, or graze past something.
verb
brush aside
- to sweep out of the way
- to dismiss from consideration
idiom
(slang) brush off
- to dismiss or get rid of abruptly or rudely
idiom
brush up
- to make neat or presentable
- to refresh one's memory or skillTo brush up on one's French.
idiom
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of brush
- Middle English brushe from Old French brosse brushwood from Vulgar Latin bruscia perhaps from Latin bruscum knot on a maple
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English brusshe from Old French brosse brushwood, brush brush2
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English brusshe, from Old French broisse (compare Modern French brosse) from Vulgar Latin *bruscia from Proto-Germanic *bruskaz (“underbrush”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhreus- (“to swell, sprout”). Akin to Middle High German bürste (“brush”), Old English byrst (“bristle”), Middle High German broz (“a bud, shoot”), Old English brēost (“breast”), Proto-Slavic *bъrščь (“hogweed”).
From Wiktionary