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

But anglers who want to target bigger fish should focus on the deepest parts of the creeks, overhanging brush, and undercut banks. —Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 16 May 2024

Your fingers are drawn to brush along every surface, called by the tactile nature of the materials. —Stacey Wreathall and Dafydd Gwyon, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2024

Place a large cast-iron flat-top griddle or skillet on grill; brush with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. 3. —Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 15 May 2024

The toolbar includes alternate brushes, a color selector, an eraser, and other functions. —Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 15 May 2024

Use your knuckles to make the dough evenly spread across the pan and brush with olive oil. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 8 May 2024

The concept is a recurring theme in the Bible and most Christian denominations affirm the belief that such brushes with the supernatural can still occur today in various capacities. —Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 8 May 2024

This kit comes with a heat resistant glove, hair clips, a detangling brush, and a storage bag. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 8 May 2024

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

Verb

The dough is rolled thin, brushed with ghee or oil and then rolled again to create the delicate texture. —Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024

While the dough cools, combine 1/3 cup sugar and egg white and brush the egg mixture on top of your cicadas, which should be laid out on wax paper. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 8 May 2024

If using a charcoal or gas grill, clean the grates and brush them with oil. —Lidey Heuck, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024

In prison, Griner watched Russian propaganda on television that linked President Biden to the Nazi party, and brushed her teeth with toothpaste that had expired in 2007. —Terry Gross, NPR, 7 May 2024

Some folks were there to brush elbows with the local celeb while others were bar regulars or fellow horseshoe leaguers. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the bacon generously with the syrup mixture. —Fox News, 3 May 2024

Clean up the edges, and then brush them with the egg white mixture. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024

One person on the boat apologized, while a classmate brushed it off with a flippant response when Local 10 asked him about the incident. —Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 3 May 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"