brush
bruhsh
Brush (noun) means a tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair. Example: “I need a stiff brush to scrub the mud off these boots.”
noun
1
A tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or grooming hair.
"I need a stiff brush to scrub the mud off these boots."
"He dipped the brush in paint and started on the fence."
"She ran a brush through her hair before leaving."
2
A brief, unpleasant encounter with something.
"The hikers had a close brush with a thunderstorm on the exposed ridge."
"After a brush with illness last winter, she started eating more carefully."
"He had a brush with the law as a teenager."
3
Wild, low-growing vegetation such as shrubs and bushes.
"Rabbits darted out of the dry brush at the edge of the field."
"Firefighters cleared the brush around the cottages to slow any spreading flames."
"The trail cut through thick brush before reaching the ridge."
verb
1
To clean, arrange, or apply something using a brush.
"He brushed the dust off his coat before going inside."
"She brushed her hair and tied it back for the interview."
"Remember to brush your teeth before bed."
2
To touch something lightly while passing by.
"A low branch brushed my face as I cycled along the path."
"The cat brushed past my legs on its way to the kitchen."
"Her hand brushed against his as they walked."
How to use brush
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bristled cleaning/grooming tool (or the act of using one), a light touch in passing, or wild shrubby vegetation.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
brush your teeth
a brush with death
clear the brush
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Word forms
- Plural
- brushes
- Third person singular
- brushes
- Past tense
- brushed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I need a stiff _____ to scrub the mud off these boots.
Etymology
From Old French broisse, ultimately from a Germanic word for bristle or thicket — the same root also gives the "shrubland" sense of brush.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for brush
See all rhymes for 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.
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