Brush Definition Brush Definition 1

Brush (noun) — an instrument with bristles, fibers, or a similar substance attached to a handle. At home, people use it for things like scrubbing dishes, cleaning surfaces, and brushing their hair.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/brʌʃ/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Brush”

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Tips for “brush” pronunciation: 

The word starts with a brisk br sound made by bringing your lips together, and it ends with a short -ush that resembles the ending in “hush.”

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How to Use “Brush” in a Sentence

You can see how “brush” works in real life by checking a few everyday examples. It comes up often in chats about cleaning, grooming, and general home routines.

Can you hand me the brush from the bathroom shelf?
She used a small brush to clean the dust off the lamp.
There is a new dish brush in the kitchen drawer.
I cannot find my brush; I saw it here in the morning.
He bought a soft brush for the dog’s fur.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Brush”?

“Brush” synonyms help learners describe different tools used for cleaning, grooming, or applying something. The term is used in our everyday life and hence having substitutes enriches your vocabulary.

Related nouns: scrubber broom (for floor cleaning) comb (for hair)

Synonyms (contextual): cleaning tool grooming tool

Common collocations: use a brush clean with a brush pick up a brush replace a brush

“Brush” Word Formation and Description in Context

Use a “brush” with a lot of confidence in the sentence by mixing it with adjectives, verbs, and simple noun constructions.

With adjectives: a soft brush a small brush a new brush a stiff brush

With verbs: pick up a brush clean with a brush wash the brush drop a brush

With nouns (noun + noun): brush holder brush set brush handle brush bristles

Idioms and Popular Phrases with “Brush”

The “brush” meaning is easy, but the phrases created around it demonstrate just how creative ordinary English can sound.

  • A brush with something — a brief or momentary experience, usually involving danger or difficulty.

    He had a brief brush with trouble when his bike slipped on the ice.

  • Brush up on — improve or refresh your knowledge or skill.

    I need to brush up on my Spanish before the trip.

  • A brush-off — a quick dismissal or rejection.

    She tried to ask for help, but he gave her the brush-off.

  • A close brush — a narrow escape from harm.

    They had a close brush with disaster when the power cut out during the surgery.
Brush Idioma Brush Idioma 1

  • Brush shoulders with someone — meet or encounter someone, usually famous or notable.

    He once brushed shoulders with Zendya and Tom Holland at an airport.

“Brush” Meaning: Test Your Knowledge

Let’s check how well you understand the definition of “brush”! Do these short tasks and develop your vocabulary.

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
Cleaning or grooming may be done with a brush.
2
A brush always refers to something used for hair only.
3
A brush has bristles or fibers attached to a handle.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these jumbled words into correct sentences:
1
is
in
kitchen
brush
the
new
A
2
uses
He
a
brush
to
clean
3
soft
her
brush
found
She
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the answer closest in meaning:
1
You want to clean the dust from a shelf. What tool do you use?
2
She cannot find her brush among the pencils. What does “brush” mean here?
3
He bought a special brush for the dog. What kind of item is this?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Brush” Word in Other Languages

You are already familiar with the English word “brush,” but domestic terms may appear very different in the European languages. The most widespread ones are as follows.

Language Word for “Brush”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Cepillo
Flag French French   Brosse
Flag German German   Bürste

Interesting Facts Behind the “Brush” Word

This common term “brush” has more to it than meets the eye — let’s discover some fun facts.

  • The existence of brushes dates back thousands of years.

    Brushes have been discovered in ancient Egypt and China that were made of plant fibers, animal hair or rigid bristles. They have been used by people since ancient times in cleaning, grooming and painting.

  • Art and creativity are concerned with brushes.

    From paintbrushes of the Renaissance era up to modern makeup brushes, they have formed human expression for centuries, being both useful and fashionable.

  • Today, developments in brush design still occur.

    Ergonomic toothbrushes and pet-specific brushes are only a few of the ways technology and materials science continue to advance cleaning, grooming, or decorating the brush, making it more effective.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Brush”

Don’t underestimate the “brush” as a word. It has been used by writers, artists, and thinkers to express creativity, precision, or delicate action.

  “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

— Henry Ward Beecher

Explanation: An artist’s work invariably reflects their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In other words, art is as much about the artist as it is about the topic on the canvas because each painting reflects a portion of the artist’s inner self.

  “With the brush we merely tint, while the imagination alone produces colour.”

— Theodore Gericault

Explanation: Tools alone cannot produce art; they need the mind behind them. Géricault highlights that a brush is only effective when guided by imagination and creative vision.

  “Spring as always was in full bloom, the breeze laden with lilac, the brush flanking the path rustling with life.”

— Sarah J. Maas

Explanation: With flowers in bloom, the aroma of lilacs filling the air, and the brush softly blowing in the wind, Maas is creating a striking depiction of spring, demonstrating the vitality of even the tiniest plants.