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noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

toothbrush

TOOTH-bruhsh

Toothbrush (noun) means a small brush with a long handle used with toothpaste to clean the teeth. Example: “He keeps a spare toothbrush at his girlfriend's flat.”

noun
1
A small brush with a long handle used with toothpaste to clean the teeth.
"He keeps a spare toothbrush at his girlfriend's flat."
"Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months."
verb
1
To scrub something with a toothbrush.
"She toothbrushed the grout between the bathroom tiles."

How to use toothbrush

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small brush you use twice a day to clean your teeth.

Common pairings
electric toothbrush toothbrush and toothpaste

Word forms

toothbrushed past tense, toothbrushes plural, toothbrushes singular

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Test yourself on “toothbrush” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He keeps a spare _____ at his girlfriend's flat.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of "tooth" and "brush", describing exactly what the object does.

soup-strainer

Frequently asked questions

What does “toothbrush” mean?

The word “toothbrush” means a small brush with a long handle used with toothpaste to clean the teeth. In plain terms, the small brush you use twice a day to clean your teeth.

How do you pronounce “toothbrush”?

“Toothbrush” is pronounced TOOTH-bruhsh (/ˈtuθ.bɹʌʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “toothbrush” in a sentence?

Here is “toothbrush” used in a sentence: “He keeps a spare toothbrush at his girlfriend's flat.”

What part of speech is “toothbrush”?

Depending on how it is used, “toothbrush” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “toothbrush” a common word?

“Toothbrush” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “toothbrush” have?

“Toothbrush” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small brush with a long handle used with toothpaste to clean the teeth.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial