Meaning of brush in English

1. Pronunciation

   /brəʃ/

   US accent

   How to pronounce brush in American English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

   UK accent

   How to pronounce brush in British English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

1. Verb

   brush

   Definitions

   1. rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

   Examples

   • « Johnson brushed the hairs from his jacket »
2. 2. touch lightly and briefly

   Examples

   • « He brushed the wall lightly »
3. 3. clean with a brush

   Examples

   • « She brushed the suit before hanging it back into the closet »
4. 4. sweep across or over

   Examples

   • « Her long skirt brushed the floor »
   • « A gasp swept cross the audience »
5. 5. remove with or as if with a brush

   Examples

   • « brush away the crumbs »
   • « brush the dust from the jacket »
   • « brush aside the objections »
6. 6. cover by brushing

   Examples

   • « brush the bread with melted butter »

7. Noun

   brush

   Etymology

   Middle English: noun from Old French broisse; verb partly from Old French brosser‘to sweep’

   Definitions

   1. a dense growth of bushes
8. 2. an implement that has hairs or bristles firmly set into a handle
9. 3. momentary contact
10. 4. conducts current between rotating and stationary parts of a generator or motor
11. 5. a minor short-term fight
12. 6. the act of brushing your teeth

    Examples

    • « the dentist recommended two brushes a day »
13. 7. the act of brushing your hair

    Examples

    • « he gave his hair a quick brush »
14. 8. contact with something dangerous or undesirable

    Examples

    • « I had a brush with danger on my way to work »
    • « he tried to avoid any brushes with the police »