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to brush

to brush

242 1.0
To move a brush across something to clean or paint it
  • verb
  • /brʌʃ/
translation icon : cepillar
  • I mean, I get up, I brush my teeth.
  • brush your teeth
  • brush your hair
  • brushed with diagonal lines

I just take this and brush up my brows.

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Examples

  • And I'm going to just brush my fingers through the hair.

  • And then I brush my hair 100 times with this.

  • Could I actually brush my hair to see?

  • OK so first I always just brush my hair and put my hair up.

  • Jack, go brush your teeth.

  • Make sure you brush your teeth.

  • You forgot to brush your teeth.

  • So I'm going to brush out my hair.

  • I'm going to brush through all my hair.

  • Make sure you brush your teeth after every meal.

Synonyms

to wipe
vsto brush
531 1.0

To clean and dry a surface by rubbing it with a cloth or your hand

uses sweeping strokes as well as light application, not just rubbing
to sweep
vsto brush
227 1.0

To clean a floor or surface by brushing away dirt with a broom

is broader, also covering applying substances with a light back-and-forth motion
to dust
vsto brush
66 1.0

To remove small dry particles from a surface by wiping or brushing

is broader, covering particle removal and applying substances by light motion
to vacuum
vsto brush
48 1.7

Clean a floor or carpet with a machine that sucks up dirt

uses hand sweeping or applying motions rather than machine suction methods
to whisk
vsto brush
41 3.4

To move someone or something quickly and lightly

shares the light motion idea but focuses on cleaning or applying
to mop
vsto brush
37 1.0

To clean a floor with a long handle and wet cloth

is more general, also meaning small tool sweeping or applying actions
to swab
vsto brush
22 4.0

To clean a surface or put liquid on it using a cotton stick

uses a broader motion tool and covers sweeping actions too
to sweep the floor
vsto brush
14 1.0

To clean the floor by moving dust and dirt with a broom

fits many surfaces and actions beyond just floor cleaning
to brush back
vsto brush
3 2.6

Move hair away from the face using your hand or a comb

is similar but applies to cleaning or applying rather than grooming
to scrub off
vsto brush
1 2.5

To remove dirt or stains by rubbing hard with a brush

is milder, often using light sweeping rather than forceful rubbing
to brush on
vsto brush
1 3.8

To put a liquid or soft substance on a surface with a brush

is broader, covering cleaning, sweeping, or applying by light motion
to hoover up
vsto brush
  • UK
1 4.3

To clean a carpet or floor using a vacuum cleaner

is gentler, covering hand sweeping, light strokes, and applying substances
to brush down
vsto brush
2.7

To clean dust and dirt from something using quick movements

is more general, also including applying substances and light sweeping motions
to whisk off
vsto brush
4.2

To remove dust or crumbs quickly with a light movement

is broader, including gentle cleaning actions as well as applying
to vacuum-clean
vsto brush
2.1

To clean a carpet or floor with a vacuum cleaner

involves manual sweeping or light application actions instead of machine cleaning

Idioms

the brush-off
  • Informal
3 7.0

A quick unfriendly answer that ignores someone

Describe people or things in very general ways that ignore important details

Unfairly judge a whole group because of one person's actions

Phrasal Verbs

to brush off
  • Informal
22 3.9

To ignore what someone says or feels as unimportant

22 3.7

Refresh your knowledge or skill by practising and reviewing

Review and improve what you know about something you have not used for a while

To touch something lightly while passing by

Ignore a person or thing because you think they are not important

Move hair away from the face using your hand or a comb

3 5.2

To move past a person or thing very close without stopping

To reject someone quickly and rudely

1 3.8

To put a liquid or soft substance on a surface with a brush

to brush down
  • Informal
7.9

To tell someone off angrily

To clean dust and dirt from something using quick movements

Clean your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste

to dry brush
  • Specialized
4.9

To use very little paint to make a rough, scratchy texture on a surface

Compounds

7 3.3

A mark made by a brush in a painting

brush-off
  • Informal
5 6.0

A cold short reply that shows no interest

5 4.1

A small uncontrolled fire that burns bushes and shrubs

2 2.3

A brush with short, stiff bristles for cleaning hard surfaces

bristle brush
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A brush with short, stiff hairs for cleaning or painting rough surfaces

sable brush
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A painting tool with soft sable hairs that makes fine, flexible points

1 4.7

Low bushes or plants that grow close to the ground in dry areas

1 4.2

A short haircut with hair standing upright like a brush

dry brush
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A way of painting that uses very little paint to make a rough, scratchy texture

A brush with short stiff bristles for cleaning hard dirt on surfaces

A small brush that you use to put cream or soap on your face before using a razor

A general way of dealing with something that ignores small details

A general remark that does not include specific details

brush discharge
  • Specialized
9.9

A faint blue electric glow with many thin light rays that appears when high voltage makes a spark

brush kangaroo
  • Australian
9.5

A small or medium animal like a kangaroo that lives in forests and thick bushes

brush turkey
  • Australian
9.7

A large black bird that builds big nesting mounds in the woods of Australia and New Guinea

8.5

A small wild dog that lives in western North America and often howls at night

8.2

A medium to large butterfly with bright wings and small front legs not used for walking

brush-tail porcupine
  • Specialized
9.9

A large animal with sharp spines and a brush of stiff hairs at the end of its tail

9.9

A small animal from Australia and New Guinea that lives in trees and has a pouch and a bushy tail

9.9

A rodent with a brush of stiff, bead-like hairs at the tip of its tail

9.8

A useful pasture plant that sheep eat

A thing cows rub against to scratch and clean themselves

cow brush
  • Specialized
5.5

A device with brushes that cows use to scratch and clean themselves

9.2

A spreading evergreen shrub with small flowers that grows on dry hills in the southwestern United States

croppy brush
  • Specialized
9.2

A small brush with short hairs for painting fine details

4.1

A brush with stiff hairs used on dry skin to remove dead skin and help blood flow

9.9

A spiny shrub with silvery leaves that grows on dry alkaline plains

9.6

A shrub with thin hairy branches and bright yellow flowers that smells nice and grows on western plains

rigger brush
  • Specialized
8.9

A long thin paint brush used for painting very fine lines like the ropes on a ship

A tree from Mexico and Guatemala with dense hairy flowers that look like brushes at branch ends

How Vigorous

to scour
15 4.8
to scrub
55 1.0
to rub
600 1.0
to wipe
531 1.0
to brush
242 1.0
to touch
1.0

Surface Forms

brush infinitive
brushed past
brushed past participle
brushing present participle
brushes third person singular

Etymology

The word brush as a verb originally meant to move a bunch of hairs or twigs across a surface, which is why to brush means to clean, sweep, or apply something with a light, sweeping motion.