Brush — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbrəsh/

Meaning & Definition of Brush

Brush (noun)

  1. brushwood
  2. scrub vegetation
  3. land covered with scrub vegetation
  4. a device composed of bristles typically set into a handle and used especially for sweeping, smoothing, scrubbing, or painting
  5. something resembling a brush
  6. a bushy tail
  7. a brief encounter or skirmish

Brush (verb)

  1. to apply a brush to
  2. to apply with a brush
  3. to remove with passing strokes (as of a brush)
  4. to move lightly or heedlessly

Brush (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a brief clash between enemies or rivals

    "the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded"

    similar: encounter, hassle, run-in, scrape, skirmish
    related: argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff, battle, brawl, fray, wrangle

Brush (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move or proceed smoothly and readily

    "a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers"

    similar: bowl, breeze, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk
    related: fly, race, rush, speed
    opposite: flounder, struggle
    near: limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

  2. to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing

    "spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement"

    similar: graze, kiss, nudge, shave, skim
    related: bump, contact, scrape, sideswipe, strike, sweep, swipe, touch, bounce, carom, glance, rebound, ricochet, skip, caress, cuddle, fondle, love, pat, pet, stroke, miss, skirt
    near: bang, bash, bump, clash, collide, crash, hit, impact, impinge, knock, punch, ram, slam, slap, smack, smash, swipe, thud, thwack, whack

Related Entry: Brush (aside or off) (verb)

Brush (aside or off) is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush (aside or off), not for brush.

  1. to dismiss as of little importance

    "brushed off their complaints as the whining of people who were never satisfied"

    similar: blink (at), condone, discount, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, wink (at), close one's eyes to, forgive and forget
    related: explain, justify, rationalize, absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate, waive, wave (aside or off)
    near: heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)

Related Entry: Brush-off (noun)

Brush-off is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush-off, not for brush.

  1. treatment that is deliberately unfriendly

    "the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off"

    similar: cold shoulder, rebuff, repulse, silent treatment, snub
    related: dismissal, kiss-off, rejection, banishment, blackball, ostracism
    opposite: open arms
    near: acceptance, embrace, welcome, glad hand, welcome mat

Related Entry: Brush (off) (verb)

Brush (off) is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush (off), not for brush.

  1. as in reject, shrug off

    similar: dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh, reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at), defy, disobey, mock, rebel (against), disoblige, mutiny (against), revolt (against), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand
    opposite: capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), cooperate (with), keep, observe, accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige, attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch, comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey

Related Entry: Brush fire (noun)

Brush fire is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush fire, not for brush.

  1. as in wildfire, forest fire

    similar: backfire, bonfire, campfire, forest fire, wildfire, conflagration, holocaust, inferno, blaze, flare-up, arson

Related Entry: Brush fires (noun)

Brush fires is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush fires, not for brush.

  1. as in wildfires, forest fires

    similar: backfires, bonfires, campfires, forest fires, wildfires, conflagrations, holocausts, infernos, blazes, flare-ups, arsons

Related Entry: Brush-offs (noun)

Brush-offs is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for brush-offs, not for brush.

  1. treatment that is deliberately unfriendly

    "the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off"

    similar: cold shoulders, rebuffs, repulses, silent treatments, snubs
    related: dismissals, kiss-offs, rejections, banishments, blackballs, ostracisms
    opposite: open arms
    near: acceptances, embraces, welcomes, glad hands, welcome mats

Related Entry: Broad-brush (adjective)

Broad-brush is a different word from Brush. The synonyms below are for broad-brush, not for brush.

  1. belonging or relating to the whole

    "an unfair, broad-brush accusation of corruption in the statehouse"

    similar: across-the-board, blanket, common, general, generic, global, overall, universal
    related: all-embracing, broad, broad-gauge, broadscale, comprehensive, extensive, inclusionary, overarching, pervasive, sweeping, ubiquitous, wholesale, wide, widespread, aggregate, collective, complete, full, plenary, planetary, worldwide
    opposite: individual, particular
    near: component, constituent, cross-sectional, divisional, fragmentary, partial, local, localized, regional, sectional

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Brush

The most common words with a similar meaning to Brush:

encounter, hassle, run-in, scrape, skirmish, bowl, breeze, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk, graze, kiss, nudge, shave

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Brush

Words with the opposite meaning of Brush:

flounder, struggle

Related Words for Brush

argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff, battle, brawl, fray, wrangle, fly, race, rush, speed, bump, contact, sideswipe, strike, swipe, touch, bounce, carom, glance, rebound, ricochet, skip, caress, cuddle, fondle

Near Antonyms of Brush

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil, bang, bash, bump, clash, collide, crash, hit, impact, impinge, knock, punch, ram, slam, slap, smack, smash, swipe

Word Forms of Brush

Inflections: brushed, brushing, brushes

Derived words: brusher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Brush

Middle English brusch, from an Anglo-French form akin to Old French broce brushwood, Medieval Latin brusca

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Brush

  • Topics: Arts & Design

Words & Phrases Containing Brush

brush border, brush cut, brush discharge, brush fire, brush-off

Frequently Asked Questions about Brush

What does "Brush" mean?

"Brush" means brushwood. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: brushwood. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Brush"?

Other words for "Brush" include encounter, hassle, run-in, scrape, skirmish, bowl, breeze and coast. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Brush" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Brush"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Brush". Common alternatives include encounter, hassle, run-in, scrape, skirmish, bowl, breeze, coast, cruise and drift.

What is the opposite of "Brush"?

Antonyms of "Brush" include flounder and struggle. Near antonyms include limp, lumber, plod and stumble.

How do you use "Brush" in a sentence?

Examples of "Brush" in a sentence: "the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded"; "a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers"; "spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement".

Is "Brush" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Brush" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Brush"?

"Brush" is pronounced /ˈbrəsh/.

What is the origin of the word "Brush"?

"Brush" comes from Middle English brusch, from an Anglo-French form akin to Old French broce brushwood, Medieval Latin brusca. First known use: 14th century.