Meaning of “brush” in the English Dictionary

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"brush" in English

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brushnoun

uk ​ /brʌʃ/ us ​ /brʌʃ/

brush noun (TOOL)

A2 [ C ] an object with short pieces of stiff hair, plastic, or wire attached to a base or handle, used for cleaning, arranging your hair, or painting:

I can't find my brush, but I still have my comb.
You'll need a stiff brush to scrape off the rust.
a clothes brush
a scrubbing (US scrub) brush
a pastry brush

A2 [ C ] used as a combining form:

a hairbrush
a toothbrush
a paintbrush

B2 [ S ] mainly UK an act of cleaning with a brush:

These shoes need a good brush.
Don't forget to give your hair a brush before you go out.

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brush noun (TOUCH)

› [ C usually singular ] a quick, light touch:

He felt the brush of her hand on his.
a brush with sth

› a situation in which you experience something, or almost experience something, especially something unpleasant:

Jim had a brush with death (= was nearly killed) on the motorway.
Was that your first brush with the law (= experience of being in trouble with the police)?

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brush noun (BUSHES)

› [ U ] US small, low bushes or the rough land they grow on:

We spotted a jackrabbit hidden in the brush.
The dry weather has increased the risk of brush fires.

› [ U ] US →  brushwood

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brushverb

uk ​ /brʌʃ/ us ​ /brʌʃ/

brush verb (TOUCH)

B2 [ I + adv/prep, T ] to touch (something) quickly and lightly or carelessly:

Charlotte brushed against him (= touched him quickly and lightly with her arm or body) as she left the room.
His lips gently brushed her cheek and he was gone.

C1 [ T + adv/prep ] to move something somewhere using a brush or your hand:

Jackie brushed the hair out of her eyes.
He brushed away a tear.
She stood up and brushed the wrinkles from her dress.

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brush verb (CLEAN)

A2 [ T ] to clean something or make something smooth with a brush:

When did he last brush his teeth, she wondered.
She brushed her hair with long, regular strokes.
[ + obj + adj ] My trousers got covered in mud, but luckily I was able to brush them clean.

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Phrasal verb(s)

brush sb/sth aside
brush sb/sth off
brush sth off
brush past sb
brush up (on) sth

(Definition of “brush” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"brush" in American English

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brushnoun

us ​ /brʌʃ/

brush noun (TOOL)

› [ C ] any of various utensils consisting of hairs or fibers arranged in rows or grouped together, attached to a handle, and used for smoothing the hair, cleaning things, painting, etc.:

I need a better brush for my hair.

› [ C ] Brush is often used as a combining form:

hairbrush
toothbrush
paintbrush

brush noun (BUSHES)

› [ U ] low, dense bushes that grow on open land:

The river banks were covered with brush.

brush noun (TOUCH)

› [ C usually sing ] A brush with something or someone is a close and usually unpleasant meeting:

The subway system has survived several brushes with bankruptcy.

brushverb

us ​ /brʌʃ/

brush verb (TOUCH)

› [ I/T ] to touch something lightly:

[ T ] A warm gust of wind brushed my cheek.
[ I ] The cat brushed against my leg.

brush verb (TOOL)

› [ T ] to remove or improve the appearance of something using your hand or a brush:

She brushed a strand of hair from her face.
She brushed her hair.
brush your teeth

› To brush your teeth is to clean them using a small brush and toothpaste.

Phrasal verb(s)

brush yourself off
brush aside something/someone
brush off something
brush off someone/something
brush up on something

(Definition of “brush” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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