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

Verb (1)

spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement

Noun (3)

the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

Verb (2)

a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Due to those incidents, and a number of other brushes with the law, until last year Jelly was unable to secure a passport in order to book shows outside of the U.S. due to legal restrictions on travel by former felons. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025

With 8000Pa suction and an extra-long rubber brush, the X2 Omni has plenty of cleaning power. —Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025

Verb

For example, brush your teeth with the opposite hand, take a new route to work or order a new dish. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Once released, the curls are gently brushed out for a soft, voluminous effect, and sealed into place with a setting spray. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for brush

• blush
• crush
• flush
• gush
• hush
• lush
• mush
• plush
• shush
• slush
• thrush
• airbrush

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"