brush
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for brush, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use brush
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French broisse, ultimately from a Germanic word for bristle or thicket — the same root also gives the "shrubland" sense of brush.
Full origin of brush →Frequently asked questions
What does “brush” mean?
The word “brush” means a tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair. In plain terms, a bristled cleaning/grooming tool (or the act of using one), a light touch in passing, or wild shrubby vegetation.
How do you pronounce “brush”?
“Brush” is pronounced bruhsh (/bɹʌʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “brush” in a sentence?
Here is “brush” used in a sentence: “He dipped the brush in paint and started on the fence.”
What part of speech is “brush”?
Depending on how it is used, “brush” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brush” come from?
The word “brush” comes from Old French. From Old French broisse, ultimately from a Germanic word for bristle or thicket — the same root also gives the "shrubland" sense of brush.
Is “brush” a common word?
“Brush” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “brush” have?
“Brush” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair.
What is the difference between a brush and a broom?
A brush is a tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair, while a broom is a larger cleaning tool with a long handle and a wide head of bristles used mainly for sweeping floors. A broom is essentially a large sweeping brush.
What is the difference between a brush and a comb?
A brush has bristles set into a handle and is used to smooth, style, or detangle hair as well as for cleaning and painting, while a comb is a flat tool with a row of teeth used chiefly to arrange or part hair. Brushes cover more surface, whereas combs give finer control.
What is the difference between 'brush' and 'sweep'?
A brush is usually the tool, while 'sweep' is the action of using a brush or broom to clear a surface. You brush something with short strokes to clean or groom it, but you sweep a floor when clearing dust and dirt across a larger area.