brush

I

[[t]brʌʃ[/t]]

n.

1) an implement consisting of bristles, hair, or the like and a handle, used for painting, cleaning, grooming, etc

2) mad either of a pair of wire-bristled, brushlike devices used to mark a soft rhythmic beat on drums or cymbals

3) zool. the bushy tail of an animal, esp. a fox

4) elm an electrical conductor, often of carbon or copper, serving to maintain electric contact between stationary and moving parts of a motor, generator, etc

5) any feathery or hairy tuft or tassel

6) an application of a brush

7) a light, stroking touch

8) a close approach, esp. to something undesirable or harmful; skirmish:

a brush with disaster[/ex]

9) cvb the brush, a rejection or rebuff

10) to sweep, paint, clean, polish, etc., with a brush

11) to touch lightly in passing; pass lightly over

12) to remove by brushing or by lightly passing over

13) to move or skim with a slight contact

14) phv brush aside, to disregard; ignore

15) spo brush back, baseball to force (a batter) away from the plate with a fastball pitched high and inside

16) phv brush off, to rebuff; send away

17) phv brush up (on), to revive or review

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Etymology: 1350–1400; (n.) ME brusshe II

brush

[[t]brʌʃ[/t]] n.

1)

a) a dense growth of bushes, shrubs, etc.; scrub; thicket

b) dense, low-growing bushes and shrubs

c) land or area covered with dense, low growth

2) brushwood 1), brushwood 2)

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME brusshe < MF broisse, OF broce underbrush