ENGLISH
REFERENCE

toothbrush

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈtuθbɹəʃ// UK //tˈuːθbɹʌʃ// tooth·brush

n. a small brush with a long handle that you use to clean your teeth. You usually use it with toothpaste every morning and night.

n. a small, handled brush specifically designed for oral hygiene. Used in conjunction with dentifrice to remove plaque and food debris from teeth.


SIMPLE

I need to buy a new toothbrush today.

CONTEXTUAL

Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months to ensure the bristles remain effective at cleaning.

COMPLEX

The evolution of the toothbrush from simple chew sticks to sophisticated electric models reflects centuries of advancement in personal hygiene technology.

Synonyms
Origin

From tooth + brush. Compare Saterland Frisian Tuskebäärsel (“toothbrush”), West Frisian toskboarstel (“toothbrush”), Dutch tandenborstel (“toothbrush”), German Zahnbürste (“toothbrush”), Danish tandbørste (“toothbrush”), Swedish tandborste (“toothbrush”), Icelandic tannbursti (“toothbrush”).

Usage

Commonly used in compound nouns like 'electric toothbrush' or 'travel toothbrush'.

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