- 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.
- 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.
A round hair brush.
- ☆ sparsely settled country, covered with wild scrub growth
- 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.
- 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
- a bushy tail, esp. that of a fox
- ☆ Slang brushoff
- 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
- brush discharge
Origin of brushMiddle English brushe ; from Old French broce, brosse, bush, brushwood ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form bruscia ; from Germanic an unverified form bruskaz, underbrush: for Indo-European base see breast
- 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
brush asideor brush away
- to sweep out of the way
- to dismiss from consideration
brush off☆ Slang
- to make neat or presentable
- to refresh one's memory or skill: often with on: to brush up on one's French
Origin of brushMiddle English bruschen, rush ; from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Old French brosser, to travel (? through woods), beat underbrush for game: see brush
- a. An implement typically consisting of bristles fastened into a handle, used in scrubbing, polishing, grooming, or applying a liquid.b. The act of using this implement.
- a. A sweeping stroke of the hand, as in removing something.b. A light touch in passing; a graze.c. 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.
verbbrushed, brush·ing, brush·es
- a. To clean, polish, or groom with a brush: brush one's teeth; brush the dog's coat.b. To apply with a brush: brushed shellac onto the wood.c. To remove with a brush or with sweeping strokes: brushed dirt from his pants.
- To dismiss abruptly or curtly: brushed the matter aside; brushed an old friend off.
- To touch lightly in passing; graze against.
- To use a brush.
- To make sweeping strokes with the hand.
- To touch something lightly in moving past.
Origin of brushMiddle English brusshe, from Old French brosse, brushwood, brush; see brush2.
- a. Dense vegetation consisting of shrubs or small trees.b. Land covered by such a growth.
- Cut or broken branches.
Origin of brushMiddle English brushe, from Old French brosse, brushwood, from Vulgar Latin *bruscia, perhaps from Latin bruscum, knot on a maple.
- An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including cleaning, painting, and arranging hair.
- A piece of conductive material, usually carbon, serving to maintain electrical contact between the stationary and rotating parts of a machine.
- The act of brushing something.
- She gave her hair a quick brush.
- (uncountable) Wild vegetation, generally larger than grass but smaller than trees .
- A short and sometimes occasional encounter or experience.
- He has had brushes with communism from time to time.
- The furry tail of an animal, especially of a fox.
- (zoology) A tuft of hair on the mandibles.
- (archaic) A short contest, or trial, of speed.
- (music) An instrument, resembling a brush, used to produce a soft sound from drums or cymbals.
- (computer graphics) An on-screen tool for "painting" a particular colour or texture.
- (video games) In 3D video games, a convex polyhedron, especially one that defines structure of the play area.
- (poker, slang) The floorperson of a poker room, usually in a casino.
- (North Wisconsin, uncountable) Evergreen boughs, especially balsam, locally cut and baled for export, usually for use in wreathmaking.
(third-person singular simple present brushes, present participle brushing, simple past and past participle brushed)
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”).