- brush
- 1
noun
1 FOR CLEANING (C) an object that you use for cleaning, painting etc, made with a lot of hairs, bristles (bristle1 (2)), or thin pieces of plastic fixed to a handle: a hairbrush | Get a brush and sweep up all that rubbish.2 (singular) a movement which brushes something, to remove dirt, make something smooth, tidy etc: I'll just give my hair a quick brush.3 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 past4 BUSHES/TREES (U)a) AmE small bushes and trees covering an open area of landb) branches which have broken off bushes and trees5 a brush with death/a brush with the law etc an occasion when something bad almost happens to you, but you just manage to avoid it6 FAIL (C) the tail of a fox 1 (1)-see also: daft as a brush daft (1) 2 verb1 (T) to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush: Don't forget to brush your teeth.2 (transitive always + adv/prep) to remove something with a brush or with your hand: brush sth off/away etc: Brush the crumbs off your jacket, you messy thing. | He brushed his hair out of his eyes.3 (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive) to touch someone or something lightly by chance when passing them(+ against): I felt her hair brush against my arm. | brush sth: The car brushed the hedges of the narrow lane.4 brush yourself down BrE brush yourself off AmE to tidy yourself, especially after a fall, by using your hands to brush your clothes etc: I got up, brushed myself down, and carried on walking.brush sb/sth aside phrasal verb (T) to refuse to listen to or consider something: He simply brushed all my objections aside. brush sth down phrasal verb (T) to clean your clothes or an animal thoroughly using a brush brush sth off phrasal verb (T) refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude: The President brushed off their pleas for an investigation. brush up (on) sth phrasal verb (I) to quickly practise and improve your skills or knowledge: I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.