brush

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈbrəsh 

1

: brushwood

2

a

: scrub vegetation

b

: land covered with scrub vegetation

brush

2 of 5

noun (2)

1

: a device composed of bristles typically set into a handle and used especially for sweeping, smoothing, scrubbing, or painting

2

: something resembling a brush: such as

a

: a bushy tail

b

: a feather tuft worn on a hat

3

: an electrical conductor that makes sliding contact between a stationary and a moving part (as of a generator or a motor)

4

a

: an act of brushing

b

: a quick light touch or momentary contact in passing

brush

3 of 5

verb (1)

brushed; brushing; brushes

transitive verb

1

a

: to apply a brush to

b

: to apply with a brush

2

a

: to remove with passing strokes (as of a brush)

b

: to dispose of in an offhand way : dismiss

brushed him off

3

: to pass lightly over or across : touch gently against in passing

brusher noun

brush

4 of 5

noun (3)

: a brief encounter or skirmish

a brush with disaster

a brush with the law

brush

5 of 5

verb (2)

brushed; brushing; brushes

intransitive verb

: to move lightly or heedlessly

brushed past the well-wishers waiting to greet him

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• graze
• kiss
• nudge
• shave
• skim

Noun (3)

• encounter
• hassle
• run-in
• scrape
• skirmish

Verb (2)

• bowl
• breeze
• coast
• cruise
• drift
• flow
• glide
• roll
• sail
• skim
• slide
• slip
• stream
• sweep
• whisk

Examples of brush in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Blind bake: Press braids gently onto dough edge, and brush with egg white mixture. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024

How are powder puffs different than makeup brushes? —Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 May 2024

With gentle monthly cleansing, the brushes should last for years. —Jamie Sims Angela Koh Caitie Kelly Gage Daughdrill Shannon Adducci Ella Riley-Adams Caitie Kelly Angela Koh, New York Times, 2 May 2024

That’s a close brush with the Sun, but Solar Orbiter is on a trajectory toward an even closer approach, set to reach a minimum distance of 43 million kilometers (0.287 AU) from the Sun on October 7. —George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024

The hanging lamp includes a removable tray and cleaning brush for easy maintenance. —Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

This may be a brush pile in 15 feet, the first rocky drop in 20 feet, or the base of a dock post in 10 feet of water. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 1 May 2024

Moreover, the cleaning structure on ants’ legs is made up of a combination of different types of hairs, functioning like both a comb and a brush to systematically pick up and remove tiny particles. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024

The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes. —Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

Verb

Hough, who chairs the Senate’s powerful budget-writing committee, brushed off the idea of waiting to take up the FRA until after the Senate passes its version of the budget. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024

The cat brushed against Ms. Suu Kyi, threading her legs in a nervous pattern, then slinked behind sandbags. —Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Underneath the bangs, Ono brushed a shimmery champagne shadow across the musician's eyelids, then defined her green eyes with a subtle wing of black liner. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 Apr. 2024

A lot of times, it’s been placed on us as Black women to get up and brush ourselves off. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 17 Apr. 2024

Also, be sure to brush your hair gently since tugging on your hair can lead to hair loss. —Alyssa Hui, Health, 16 Apr. 2024

The air conditioning was more than capable on a sunny April day that brushed 90 degrees. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024

Bathrooms have been long regarded as the ultimate sanctuary; a restful respite to brush your teeth, take a shower, and perfect your multi-step skincare routine. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024

At 36mm — the same size as the 1963 original — three new models come in steel or steel and rose-gold, with dials of mother-of-pearl or brushed copper; the ideal pairing to a wistful of mixed-metal jewelry. —Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English brusch, from an Anglo-French form akin to Old French broce brushwood, Medieval Latin brusca

Noun (2)

Middle English brusshe, from an Anglo-French form akin to Middle French broisse

Noun (3)

Middle English brusche rush, hostile collision, from bruschen

Verb (2)

Middle English bruschen to rush, probably from Middle French brosser to dash through underbrush, from broce

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1674, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing brush

• as daft as a brush
• broad-brush
• brush aside
• brush border
• brush cut
• brush discharge
• brush fire
• brush-off
• brush shoulders
• brush up
• end brush
• gave me the brush-off
• got the brush-off
• rabbit brush
• scrub brush
• tar with the same brush
• the brush-off

Kids Definition

brush

1 of 5 noun

ˈbrəsh 

1

: brushwood sense 1

2

a

: short trees or shrubs of poor quality

b

: land covered with brush

brush

2 of 5 noun

1

: a tool made of bristles set in a back or handle and used especially for cleaning, smoothing, or painting

2

: a bushy tail (as of a fox or squirrel)

3

: a conductor for an electric current between a moving and a still part of an electric motor or generator

4

a

: an act of brushing

b

: a quick light stroke

brushlike

-ˌlīk

adjective

brush

3 of 5 verb

1

a

: to clean, smooth, scrub, or paint with a brush

b

: to apply with or as if with a brush

2

a

: to remove with or as if with a brush

brush the lint off your coat

b

: to pay no attention to : dismiss

brush off criticism

3

: to pass lightly across : touch gently against in passing

twigs brushed my cheek

brush

4 of 5 noun

: a brief fight or meeting

a brush with disaster

brush

5 of 5 verb

: to move quickly past without stopping or paying attention

brushed by the reporters

Etymology

Noun

Middle English brusch "broken or cut twigs or branches," from early French broce "small broken branches, brushwood"

Noun

Middle English brusshe "brush (for sweeping)," derived from early French broisse

Noun

Middle English brusche "a rush, collision," from bruschen "to rush," probably from early French brosser "to dash through underbrush," from broce "brushwood"