Meaning of brush In English

• 0 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

  • a hairbrush

  • a toothbrush

  • a paintbrush

  • These shoes need a good brush.

  • Don't forget to give your hair a brush before you go out.

• 1 a quick, light touch:

  • He felt the brush of her hand on his.

  • 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)?

• 2 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.

• 3 the tail of a fox

• 4 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.

  • Jackie brushed the hair out of her eyes.

  • He brushed away a tear.

  • She stood up and brushed the wrinkles from her dress.

• 5 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.

• 6 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.

  • hairbrush

  • toothbrush

  • paintbrush

• 7 low, dense bushes that grow on open land:

  • The river banks were covered with brush.

• 8 A brush with something or someone is a close and usually unpleasant meeting:

  • The subway system has survived several brushes with bankruptcy.

• 9 to touch something lightly:

  • [ T ] A warm gust of wind brushed my cheek.

  • [ I ] The cat brushed against my leg.

• 10 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.