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Glite Dictionary
brushup

brushup

4.7
A short time of study or practice to improve skills
  • noun
  • /ˈbrʌʃˌʌp/
  • Informal
translation icon : repaso
  • Before starting the new project, we scheduled a brushup session on the software we will be using.

Examples

  • Other than a quick brushup, we should concentrate on the elgar.

    TÁR (2022)

  • I need a quick brushup on my math skills before the exam.

  • She took a brushup course to refresh her knowledge of Spanish grammar.

Synonyms

practice
vsbrushup
585 1.6

Doing something again and again to become better at it

focuses on a limited period for improvement or memory refresh rather than ongoing repetition
review
vsbrushup
84 1.5

A period of study to go over material before a test

covers broader practice and skill updating beyond mere going over material
tune-up
vsbrushup
1 3.4

A short practice session to prepare for a sport or event

is a general study period for skill refresh rather than preparing for intense performance

How Thorough

intensive
1 4.2
brushup
  • Informal
4.7
review
84 1.5

Surface Forms

brushup singular
brushups plural

Morphology

brushup = brush + up (semi-transparent) = brush + up

The noun comes from the phrasal verb 'brush up', but the sense 'a period of practice or review' is only partly predictable from the literal meanings of the parts.

Etymology

Brushup comes from the simple image of using a brush to clean or smooth something and the word up meaning 'complete' or 'made ready'. So a brushup is a short time of practice to 'refresh' a skill or memory.