# brush

/ˈbɹəʃ/ (US) · /bɹˈʌʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brush
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a tool with bristles

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. wild vegetation

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a brief encounter

noun · CEFR B2

a short and often unpleasant meeting or experience with something.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. music tool

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. animal tail

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to clean or groom

verb · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 7. to touch lightly

verb · CEFR B1

to touch something very lightly while moving past it.

For teachers: 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.

### 8. to remove

verb · CEFR B1

to move something away with your hand or a tool.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I need a new brush for my hair.
- She used a small brush to clean the dust out of the corners of the window frame.
- The artist selected a fine-tipped brush to add the final, intricate details to the portrait's eyes, ensuring the texture of the paint remained smooth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.