brush

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to remove with or as if with a brush

   I brushed the crumbs off the tablecloth.

2. 2
   verb

   to touch lightly and briefly

   I brushed the wall to see if the paint had dried.

3. 3
   verb

   to rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

   They brushed the hairs from their jacket.

4. 4
   verb

   to clean with a brush

   I brushed the suit before hanging it back into the closet.

5. 5
   verb

   to cover by brushing

   I brushed the bread with melted butter.

6. 6
   verb

   to sweep across or over

   I brushed the sweat from my brow and got back to work, I had a long day ahead of me.

7. 7
   noun

   contact with something dangerous or undesirable

   I had a brush with danger on my way to work

8. 8
   noun

   the act of brushing your hair

   They gave their hair a quick brush.

Etymology

From Middle English brusshe, from Old French broisse (Modern French brosse), from Vulgar Latin *brustia, from Frankish *bursti, from Proto-Germanic *burstiz (“bristle”), or also Vulgar Latin *bruscia, from Proto-Germanic *bruskaz (“tuft, thicket, underbrush”), which could be from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrusgo-.