- brush
- brush1 S3 [brʌʃ] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(object for cleaning/painting)¦2¦(trees)¦3¦(movement)¦4¦(touch)¦56¦(tail)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Sense: 1, 3-6; Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Early French broisse, from Old French broce ( BRUSH12); probably because branches from bushes and trees were used to make brushes.][Sense: 2; Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: broce 'broken branches, brushwood']1.) ¦(OBJECT FOR CLEANING/PAINTING)¦an object that you use for cleaning, painting, making your hair tidy etc, made with a lot of hairs, ↑bristles, or thin pieces of plastic fastened to a handle→↑broom▪ a scrubbing brush2.) ¦(TREES)¦[U]a) small bushes and trees that cover an area of landb) branches that have broken off bushes and trees3.) ¦(MOVEMENT)¦ [singular]a movement in which you brush something to remove dirt, make something smooth, tidy etc▪ I'll just give my hair a quick brush .4.) ¦(TOUCH)¦ [singular]a quick light touch, made by chance when two things or people pass each other▪ the brush of her silk dress as she walked past5.)a time when you only just avoid an unpleasant situation or argumentbrush with▪ His first brush with the law came when he was arrested for disorderly behaviour.▪ A brush with death can make you appreciate life more.6.) ¦(TAIL)¦the tail of a ↑foxbrush 2brush2 v▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(clean/make tidy)¦2¦(remove)¦3¦(touch lightly)¦4¦(put something on something)¦Phrasal verbsbrush somebody/something<=>asidebrush somebody/something<=>downbrush somebody/something<=>offbrush up (on) something▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(CLEAN/MAKE TIDY)¦ [T]to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush→↑sweep▪ Don't forget to brush your teeth.2.) ¦(REMOVE)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to remove something with a brush or with your handbrush sth off/from etc sth▪ Ella brushed the crumbs off her jacket.▪ He brushed the tears from his eyes.3.) ¦(TOUCH LIGHTLY)¦ [>I always + adv/prep, T]to touch someone or something lightly when passing them▪ Something brushed her shoulders.brush against▪ I felt her hair brush against my arm.brush past▪ Nell brushed past him in the doorway.4.) ¦(PUT SOMETHING ON SOMETHING)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to put a liquid onto something using a brushbrush sth with sth▪ Brush the pastry with milk.brush sth over/onto sth▪ Brush a little oil over the top of the pizza.brush aside [brush sb/sth<=>aside] phr vto refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider something= ↑dismiss▪ He simply brushed all my objections aside.brush down [brush sb/sth<=>down] phr v1.) to clean something using a brush▪ He was brushing the pony down.2.) brush yourself downto use your hands to remove dirt from your clothes, especially after you have fallenbrush off [brush sb/sth<=>off] phr vto refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude▪ Corman brushed off accusations that he had acted dishonestly.brush up (on) [brush up (on) sth] phr vto practise and improve your skills or your knowledge of something that you learned in the past▪ I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.