adj
Uncommon
brushed
BRUHSHT
Brushed (adj) means Given a matte, roughened surface texture, especially metal. Example: “The kitchen has brushed steel appliances throughout.”
adj
1
Given a matte, roughened surface texture, especially metal.
"The kitchen has brushed steel appliances throughout."
2
Cleaned, tidied, or arranged using a brush.
"Thus was born Osmany Gonzalez Rivero, alias "Brush," he was nicknamed that way because of his love of toothbrushes and hairbrushes because his teeth are always very white and his hair very brushed."
— Jeannette Flores, A Dark Secret (2022)
"They all looked very brushed and washed, and most of them wore evening dress."
— Patrick Hamilton, Monday Morning (2018)
"His freshly brushed hair made him look ready for the interview."
How to use brushed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTreated with a brush or brushing process — often describing a soft, non-shiny metal finish.
Common pairings
brushed steel
brushed cotton
brushed aluminium
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like brushed.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more brushed
- Superlative
- most brushed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kitchen has _____ steel appliances throughout.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for brushed
See all rhymes for brushed →Frequently asked questions
What does “brushed” mean?
The word “brushed” means given a matte, roughened surface texture, especially metal. In plain terms, treated with a brush or brushing process — often describing a soft, non-shiny metal finish.
How do you pronounce “brushed”?
“Brushed” is pronounced BRUHSHT (/ˈbɹʌʃt/ in IPA).
How do you use “brushed” in a sentence?
Here is “brushed” used in a sentence: “The kitchen has brushed steel appliances throughout.”
What part of speech is “brushed”?
“Brushed” is an adjective.
Is “brushed” a common word?
“Brushed” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “brushed” have?
“Brushed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: given a matte, roughened surface texture, especially metal.
What does "brushed" mean when describing metal, like brushed steel?
In this sense, "brushed" describes a matte, roughened surface texture, especially on metal, created by mechanically abrading the surface. This gives materials like steel a soft, non-reflective look compared to a polished finish.
What is the difference between brushed and polished metal?
Brushed metal has a matte, roughened surface texture, while polished metal is smoothed to a shiny, reflective finish. The two terms describe opposite surface treatments applied to the same materials.
Does "brushed" always refer to a surface texture?
No, "brushed" also has a separate meaning describing something cleaned, tidied, or arranged using a brush, such as brushed hair. This everyday sense is distinct from the textured-surface meaning used for materials like metal.
