Word
toothbrush
Phoneticstooth·brush
US/ˈtuθbɹəʃ/
UK/tˈuːθbɹʌʃ/
Definitions
01cleaning tool
n. a small brush that you use to clean your teeth.
n. a small brush with a long handle specifically designed for cleaning teeth and gums.
“Don't forget to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste for the trip.”
“Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months to ensure the bristles remain effective at removing plaque.”
02to scrub with a brush
v. to clean something using a toothbrush.
v. to clean or scrub a surface using a toothbrush as a tool. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“He used an old brush to toothbrush the dirt out of the tiny cracks.”
“The restorer carefully toothbrushed the delicate carvings to remove decades of grime without damaging the underlying wood.”
Informal
Usage
The verb is transitive and often implies using the tool for something other than teeth.
Teaching tip
This verb use is rare; most speakers would simply say 'scrub with a toothbrush' rather than using the word as a verb.
Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/toothbrush