brush

n. a tool with many stiff hairs or wires attached to a handle, used for cleaning, painting, or fixing your hair.

n. an implement consisting of bristles or filaments attached to a handle, used for cleaning, grooming, or applying liquid media.

“She bought a new hair brush because her old one was missing several bristles.”

“The artist selected a fine-tipped brush to add the intricate details to the portrait's eyes.”

n. small bushes and trees that grow close together in the wild.

n. dense growth of bushes, shrubs, or small trees; undergrowth in a wild area.

“The hikers had to push through thick brush to find the hidden trail.”

“The dry brush in the valley acted as kindling, significantly increasing the risk of a wildfire during the summer months.”

n. a short and often unpleasant meeting or experience with something.

n. a brief, often unexpected or adversarial encounter or experience.

“He had a brief brush with the law when he was a teenager.”

“After his narrow brush with death in the mountains, he decided to take a professional climbing course.”

n. a tool made of thin wires that drummers use to make a soft, quiet sound.

n. a percussion accessory consisting of a handle with a fan of wire or plastic filaments, used to produce a soft, legato sound.

“The jazz drummer used brushes instead of sticks for the slow ballad.”

“The subtle texture provided by the brushes against the snare drum complemented the acoustic bass perfectly.”

Technical

n. the thick, furry tail of an animal, especially a fox.

n. the bushy tail of a mammal, specifically that of a fox.

“The fox disappeared into the woods, its white-tipped brush the last thing we saw.”

“The hunter prized the fox's brush as a trophy of the successful chase.”

Literary · Technical

v. to use a brush to clean something or make it neat.

v. to clean, polish, or groom a surface or object using an implement with bristles.

“You should brush your teeth at least twice a day.”

“She spent the morning brushing the horses until their coats shone in the sunlight.”

v. to touch something very lightly while moving past it.

v. to touch or graze something lightly in passing.

“The tall grass brushed against his legs as he walked through the field.”

“As she hurried through the crowded station, her shoulder brushed against a stranger's coat.”

v. to move something away with your hand or a tool.

v. to remove something from a surface with a sweeping motion.

“He brushed the crumbs off the table before setting down the plates.”

“She brushed the snow from her shoulders before stepping into the warm cabin.”