1
2
a
: scrub vegetation
b
: land covered with scrub vegetation
1
: a device composed of bristles typically set into a handle and used especially for sweeping, smoothing, scrubbing, or painting
2
: something resembling a brush: such as
a
: a bushy tail
b
: a feather tuft worn on a hat
3
: an electrical conductor that makes sliding contact between a stationary and a moving part (as of a generator or a motor)
4
a
: an act of brushing
b
: a quick light touch or momentary contact in passing
brushed; brushing; brushes
1
a
: to apply a brush to
b
: to apply with a brush
2
a
: to remove with passing strokes (as of a brush)
b
: to dispose of in an offhand way : dismiss
brushed him off
3
: to pass lightly over or across : touch gently against in passing
brusher
noun
: a brief encounter or skirmish
a brush with disaster
a brush with the law
brushed; brushing; brushes
: to move lightly or heedlessly
brushed past the well-wishers waiting to greet him
Synonyms
Examples of brush in a Sentence
Verb (1)
spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement
Noun (3)
the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded
Verb (2)
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Recent Examples on the Web
Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
How are powder puffs different than makeup brushes?
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 May 2024
With gentle monthly cleansing, the brushes should last for years.
—Jamie Sims Angela Koh Caitie Kelly Gage Daughdrill Shannon Adducci Ella Riley-Adams Caitie Kelly Angela Koh, New York Times, 2 May 2024
That’s a close brush with the Sun, but Solar Orbiter is on a trajectory toward an even closer approach, set to reach a minimum distance of 43 million kilometers (0.287 AU) from the Sun on October 7.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024
The hanging lamp includes a removable tray and cleaning brush for easy maintenance.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
This may be a brush pile in 15 feet, the first rocky drop in 20 feet, or the base of a dock post in 10 feet of water.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 1 May 2024
Moreover, the cleaning structure on ants’ legs is made up of a combination of different types of hairs, functioning like both a comb and a brush to systematically pick up and remove tiny particles.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 3 May 2024
Mixed with water to brush over the piecrust to help the layers adhere and for even browning.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
Following her ride on the coaster, Carey was photographed returning to its station smiling while her companion brushed her hair from the seat beside her.
—EW.com, 3 May 2024
In one find, a K-9 officer helped police find over a dozen fish buried in the sand and hidden behind logs and brush piles.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 May 2024
Infuse wild garlic into olive oil and brush it onto bruschetta or avocado toast; use it to make hummus.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 2 May 2024
Those interested in entering the competition can pledge to take action like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, running the dishwasher only when full, harvesting rainwater and more.
—Maraya King, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
Archaeologists started to brush away the dirt and revealed human remains buried in dozens of tombs, according to an April 29 news release from the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Hough, who chairs the Senate’s powerful budget-writing committee, brushed off the idea of waiting to take up the FRA until after the Senate passes its version of the budget.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
Blind bake: Press braids gently onto dough edge, and brush with egg white mixture.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
How are powder puffs different than makeup brushes?
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 May 2024
With gentle monthly cleansing, the brushes should last for years.
—Jamie Sims Angela Koh Caitie Kelly Gage Daughdrill Shannon Adducci Ella Riley-Adams Caitie Kelly Angela Koh, New York Times, 2 May 2024
That’s a close brush with the Sun, but Solar Orbiter is on a trajectory toward an even closer approach, set to reach a minimum distance of 43 million kilometers (0.287 AU) from the Sun on October 7.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024
The hanging lamp includes a removable tray and cleaning brush for easy maintenance.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
This may be a brush pile in 15 feet, the first rocky drop in 20 feet, or the base of a dock post in 10 feet of water.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 1 May 2024
Moreover, the cleaning structure on ants’ legs is made up of a combination of different types of hairs, functioning like both a comb and a brush to systematically pick up and remove tiny particles.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
One person on the boat apologized, while a classmate brushed it off with a flippant response when Local 10 asked him about the incident.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 3 May 2024
Mixed with water to brush over the piecrust to help the layers adhere and for even browning.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
Following her ride on the coaster, Carey was photographed returning to its station smiling while her companion brushed her hair from the seat beside her.
—EW.com, 3 May 2024
In one find, a K-9 officer helped police find over a dozen fish buried in the sand and hidden behind logs and brush piles.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 3 May 2024
Infuse wild garlic into olive oil and brush it onto bruschetta or avocado toast; use it to make hummus.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 2 May 2024
Those interested in entering the competition can pledge to take action like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, running the dishwasher only when full, harvesting rainwater and more.
—Maraya King, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
Archaeologists started to brush away the dirt and revealed human remains buried in dozens of tombs, according to an April 29 news release from the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Hough, who chairs the Senate’s powerful budget-writing committee, brushed off the idea of waiting to take up the FRA until after the Senate passes its version of the budget.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brush.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near brush
Cite this Entry
“Brush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brush. Accessed 11 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brush
1 of 5 noun2
a
: short trees or shrubs of poor quality
b
: land covered with brush
brush
2 of 5 noun1
: a tool made of bristles set in a back or handle and used especially for cleaning, smoothing, or painting
2
: a bushy tail (as of a fox or squirrel)
3
: a conductor for an electric current between a moving and a still part of an electric motor or generator
4
a
: an act of brushing
b
: a quick light stroke
brushlike
adjective
-ˌlīk
brush
3 of 5 verb1
a
: to clean, smooth, scrub, or paint with a brush
b
: to apply with or as if with a brush
2
a
: to remove with or as if with a brush
brush the lint off your coat
b
: to pay no attention to : dismiss
brush off criticism
3
: to pass lightly across : touch gently against in passing
twigs brushed my cheek
brush
4 of 5 noun
: a brief fight or meeting
a brush with disaster
brush
5 of 5 verb
: to move quickly past without stopping or paying attention
brushed by the reporters
Etymology
Noun
Middle English brusch "broken or cut twigs or branches," from early French broce "small broken branches, brushwood"
Noun
Middle English brusshe "brush (for sweeping)," derived from early French broisse
Noun
Middle English brusche "a rush, collision," from bruschen "to rush," probably from early French brosser "to dash through underbrush," from broce "brushwood"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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