Brush Definition

brŭsh
brushed, brushes, brushing
noun
brushes
Webster's New World
A device having bristles, hairs, or wires fastened into a hard back, with or without a handle attached: brushes are used for cleaning, polishing, painting, smoothing the hair, etc.
Webster's New World
A sweeping stroke of the hand, as in removing something.
American Heritage
The act of brushing.
Webster's New World
A device of wires attached in a fanlike spread to a handle, used as on drums or cymbals for a swishing or muted effect.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
brushed, brushes, brushing
To use a brush on; clean, polish, paint, smooth, etc. with a brush.
Webster's New World
To hurry.
Webster's New World
To go over lightly, as with a brush.
Webster's New World
To apply, spread, remove, etc. with a stroke or strokes as of a brush.
Webster's New World
To dismiss abruptly or curtly.
Brushed the matter aside; brushed an old friend off.
American Heritage
idiom
brush aside
  • to sweep out of the way
  • to dismiss from consideration
Webster's New World
brush off
  • to dismiss or get rid of abruptly or rudely
Webster's New World
brush up
  • to make neat or presentable
  • to refresh one's memory or skill

    to brush up on one's French

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Brush

Noun

Singular:
brush
Plural:
brushes

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Brush

Origin of Brush

  • Middle English brusshe, from Old French broisse (compare Modern French brosse) from Vulgar Latin *bruscia from Proto-Germanic *bruskaz (“underbrush”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhreus- (“to swell, sprout”). Akin to Middle High German bürste (“brush”), Old English byrst (“bristle”), Middle High German broz (“a bud, shoot”), Old English brēost (“breast”), Proto-Slavic *bъrščь (“hogweed”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English brushe from Old French brosse brushwood from Vulgar Latin bruscia perhaps from Latin bruscum knot on a maple

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English brusshe from Old French brosse brushwood, brush brush2

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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