Definition of brush - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
cleaningtool with bristles for cleaning or painting
- She used a brush to scrub the floor..
2.
interactionbrief encounter or conflict
- They had a brush with the law during their trip..
3.
technologyTECH. on-screen tool for painting in graphicsTECH.
- She selected the brush to edit the image.
4.
vegetationUS area covered with small bushes and treesUS
- The hikers got lost in the brush.
5.
music toolTECH. instrument for soft sound on drumsTECH.
- The drummer used a brush for a softer sound.
6.
wildlifeRare UK bushy tail of an animalRare UK
- The fox's brush was thick and bushy.
7.
electricityTECH. conductive material maintaining electrical contactTECH.
- The motor's brush needed replacement.
Verb
1.
cleaningremove dirt or dust using short strokes with a tool
- She brushed the dust off the shelf.
2.
dental careclean teeth using a brush
- He brushes his teeth twice a day.
3.
groomingcomb hair or fur to remove tangles
- He brushed his hair before the meeting.
4.
applyingspread a liquid or paste using a bristled tool
- She brushed butter on the bread.
5.
touchingtouch lightly in passing
- The cat brushed against my leg.
Images of brush

tool with bristles for cleaning or painting 
area covered with small bushes and trees 
instrument for soft sound on drums 
conductive material maintaining electrical contact
Expressions with brush
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
move past someone with slight contact
She brushed by him in the crowded hallway.
remove dirt with a brush or hands
She brushed down the coat to remove dust.
remove something with a brush or quick hand movement
She brushed off the crumbs from her shirt before the meeting..
apply a substance using a brush
She will brush on the final coat of paint.
review and improve a skill or knowledge
She decided to brush up her French before the trip.
use a brush for grooming or cleaning
She had a brush with her hair every morning.
large brush used for painting
He used a broad brush to quickly cover the wall with paint.
dismiss or ignore something or someone quickly
She brushed aside my concerns as if they were nothing..
ignore or dismiss something
She tried to brush it off when he insulted her.
move quickly past making slight contact
She brushed past him in the crowded hallway.
improve knowledge or skill in something
She decided to brush up on her Spanish before the trip.
describe a group generally without details or individual differences
He tends to paint with a broad brush when discussing cultures.
have a brief encounter with someone
She brushed shoulders with the famous author at the bookstore.
minor legal trouble or offense
Her brush with the law was quickly resolved.
very silly or foolish
He's daft as a brush, always making strange decisions.
extremely unintelligent or foolish in behavior or thought
He's as dumb as a brush when it comes to math.
initial encounter or experience with something new
At first brush, the city seemed overwhelming.
judge different people or things in the same way
Don't paint all teenagers with the same brush.
judge someone unfairly by associating with others' faults
Don't tar him with the same brush as his brother.
considered the same bad way as someone else
They were tarred with the same brush despite different actions.
situation where one almost dies
Her brush with death made her appreciate life more.
highly skilled painter or artist
Leonardo da Vinci was a master of the brush.
clean teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste
She brushes her teeth every morning and night.
touch lightly in passing
The cat brushed against my leg as it walked by.
Origin of brush
Old French, broce (brushwood)
Terms with brush included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
cleaning
clean a surface using a broom or brush
cleaning body
brush dirt or dust from your body after falling
brush work
related to the act of applying paint
cleaning
brush loose particles off a surface for cleanliness
art
movement of a brush or pen
tools
thick hairs on a brush
art
brush made from camel hair
hair grooming
untangle or smooth hair using a toothed brush
conflict
easily overwhelm or brush aside
kitchen pad
brush with stiff bristles for heavy cleaning
cleaning body
brush dirt off your body after falling or stumbling
art
showing visible brush-strokes
brush aside
dismiss or minimize the significance of something
curling
brush the ice in front of a curling stone
animal
clean and brush animals like horses or dogs
cleaning
small handheld broom or brush
animals
scrub a horse with a rubber grooming brush
cleaning
sweep a floor using a long-handled brush
cleaning tool
manual device with a rotating brush for cleaning carpets
bathroom brush
cleaning tool for toilets with disposable head
art
artist's brush with a long ferrule and flat bristle head
stone control
brush the ice lightly in curling
tools
brush made from coarse animal hair used for painting
roofing
smooth a membrane on roofs using a long-handled brush
Examples of brush in a sentence
The brush was too stiff for the delicate fabric. Their brush with the rival gang was intense. He had a brush with danger while hiking. The digital artist used a brush for shading. Adjust the brush size for finer details. The fire spread quickly through the dry brush.
Wildlife thrives in the dense brush near the river. He switched to a brush for the jazz piece. Brushes create a gentle rhythm on the snare drum. The squirrel's brush flicked as it climbed the tree. A raccoon's brush is distinctive and easily recognizable. The technician checked the brush for wear. A faulty brush can cause malfunctions. He brushed the crumbs off the table. I need to brush the dirt from my shoes. Brush your teeth before bed. I forgot to brush after lunch. She brushed the dog's fur gently. He brushed his teeth twice a day. He brushed paint onto the canvas. The chef brushed oil on the vegetables. She brushed past him in the hallway. The bird's wings brushed the water surface.
View all translations of brush
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:brosse, brosser, ...
- German:Bürste, bürsten, ...
- Italian:spazzola, spazzolare, ...
- Spanish:cepillo, cepillar, ...
- Portuguese:escova, escovar, ...
- Chinese:刷子, 刷, ...
- Japanese:ブラシ, ブラシをかける, ...
- Arabic:فُرْشَاة, فَرْشَى, ...
- Hebrew:מַבְרֶשֶׁת, לְהַבְרִישׁ, ...
- Russian:щетка, чистить, ...
- Ukrainian:щітка, змітати, ...
- Hindi:ब्रश, ब्रश करना, ...

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