brush */*/

I UK [brʌʃ] / US verb
Word forms "brush":
present tense I/you/we/they brush he/she/it brushes present participle brushing past tense brushed past participle brushed

1) [transitive] to make something clean or tidy using a brush

brush your hair/teeth:

She hadn't bothered to brush her hair.

How often do you brush your teeth?

a) to remove something from an object using a brush

brush something off/from something:

Let me brush the dust off your jacket.

brush something out:

If you get paint in your hair, you won't be able to brush it out.

b) to apply a liquid to a surface using a brush

Brush the lacquer on thinly.

brush something with something:

Brush the cut surfaces with the lemon juice.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to touch someone or something for a very short time when you go past them

Her sleeve brushed the wall.

brush past/against:

She brushed past him.

b) [transitive] to touch someone or something very gently

He brushed her lips with his mouth.

3) [transitive] to remove something by moving your hands quickly over a surface

brush something away:

Maggie brushed away her tears as she listened.

brush something from/off something:

We had to brush the snow off the windscreen.

Phrasal verbs:

- brush aside

- brush away

- brush down

- brush off

- brush up

II UK [brʌʃ] / US noun
Word forms "brush":
singular brush plural brushes

1) [countable] an object used for painting, cleaning things, or making your hair tidy. It consists of a handle with stiff fibres or thin short pieces of plastic or wire called bristles that are fixed to it

Remove any loose dirt using a soft brush.

a wire brush

2) [singular] an instance of making something clean or tidy using a brush

give something a brush:

I'll give my teeth a brush before we leave.

3) [singular] a very gentle movement against something

the brush of his hand against her arm

4)

a) [countable] a short experience of a dangerous or unpleasant situation

brush with:

He'd had a few brushes with the law, but nothing serious.

We'd had a brush with death that left us terrified.

b) a short argument or minor disagreement with someone

He turned out to be the man she'd had the brush with when she first arrived.

5) [countable] the tail of a fox

6)

a) [uncountable] mainly American an area of land with small trees and bushes growing on it

The deer disappeared into the brush.

a brush fire

b) brushwood

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See:

tar II