brush1 nounbrush2 verb
brushbrush1 /brʌʃ/ ●●● S3 noun 
WORD ORIGINbrush1
Origin:
1, 3-6 1300-1400 Early French broisse, from Old French broce ( ➔ BRUSH1 (2)); probably because branches from bushes and trees were used to make brushes. 2 1300-1400 Old French broce ‘broken branches, brushwood’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a brush fire
- I'll just give my hair a quick brush.
- I felt the brush of her sleeve as she walked past.
- Use a wire brush to remove the rust.
- By 1952 he was becoming all the more determined that the United States should not be tarred with the colonial brush.
- He cut brush and cleared fields of heavy stones.
- It's recommended that these are used in conjunction with brushes to keep them from clogging.
- Paint on your lip shape with a matching pink lip pencil, or use a brush with pink lipstick.
- Suddenly a barrier of logs and brush blocked his path.
- Titanium white colour from Brera, Maimeri; no8 Bristlewhite brushes.
- When I met with Burke in his office last week, he was stamping out the latest political brush fire.
WORD SETS
aardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
I’ll just give my hair a quick brush. His first brush with the law came when he was 16. A brush with death can make you appreciate life more.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He brushed aside criticisms of his performance. She gave him the brush-off. I tried to be friendly but I just got the brush-off. She’s as daft as a brush (=extremely silly).
I’ll just give my hair a quick brush. His first brush with the law came when he was 16. A brush with death can make you appreciate life more. He brushed aside criticisms of his performance. She gave him the brush-off. I tried to be friendly but I just got the brush-off. She’s as daft as a brush (=extremely silly).· Wash the dirt off those boots before you come in.
(=a very large fire in an area of grass)· There were frequent brush fires during the hot dry summers.
· He cleaned his teeth and brushed his hair.
(also clean your teeth British English)· I brush my teeth twice a day.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· In any case, the way forward has been mapped with only the broadest of brushes.
· All the pick-ups you've mentioned are daft as a brush.
· Cut out long thin strips for trimming around the top edge of the boat and fix on with a dampened paint brush.· Secure the head to the body with a dampened brush. 7 Shape the remaining white icing into hands and feet.· Secure the feet with a dampened brush to the front of the cake.
· Winsor & Newton Gold no4 short flat fine hog brush.· The pollen of one flower is transferred to another by means of a fine brush.· Any visible glue line can be disguised with enamel, applied with a fine camel-hair brush.· Grasses are applied in fine, light lines using a fine brush loaded with acrylic paint.· This is established with a fine brush.· Brightly paint the towel using blue and green food colourings and a fine paint brush.· Try using a fine sable rigger brush which will make very precise lines, although this does require patience!· Use a fine artist's brush to touch in sports of bare metal, scratches and chips with a metal primer.
· We follow a number of faint tracks that disappear on the flat and run into barriers of scrub brush and trees.
· She used the soap, but not the scrubbing brush.· I can't quite picture Veronica down on her knees with a scrubbing brush.· Another is a yogi on the scrubbing brush.
· She picked up the ivory-handled shaving brush which rested next to them, and felt the softness of its bristles against her face.
· A small revolving brush on the front was sweeping dust into a slot.· The California Department of Forestry said the crash sparked a small brush fire that was quickly extinguished.· Then smudge downwards towards the lashes, using a cotton bud or a small brush.· Better to remove the sprayer and use a cotton swab or small artist brush.· An irrelevant monoclonal antibody, J13, to human small intestinal brush border membranes served as a negative control.· Lightly sand scratches and chips with fine wet-and-dry paper, and remove all traces of rust with small wire brush.· When the vaporised lead cooled, it was collected by small boys with brushes and shovels.· A stiff yard broom and a small stiff hand brush will remove most of the debris.
· Use a soft bristle brush to loosen the grime and if possible a sprayer to wash it all off.· The colour was thinned with water to the consistency of cream and applied with soft synthetic haired brushes.· Imagine dusting each bud with a soft brush and malathion dust!· Even a soft body brush can feel uncomfortable if the bristles are stuck into the skin.· Clean dentures with a soft brush and soap and water after every meal and leave them in water overnight.· Loosen dust and debris from the motherboard and expansion cards with a soft bristle brush.· Brush away surplus after application, using a big, soft powder brush.· We could brush the horse with a soft brush: it will do both of us good!
· Scrub away any residue with water and a stiff brush.· The vacuum cleaner was welcomed at first because it meant no longer having to do the stairs with a stiff brush.· Churn or utility brush: A short handled, stiff bristled brush shaped for use in awkward areas and for general cleaning.· A stiff yard broom and a small stiff hand brush will remove most of the debris.
NOUN· An irrelevant monoclonal antibody, J13, to human small intestinal brush border membranes served as a negative control.· More recent investigations with rat jejunal brush border membrane vesicles, however, have found evidence only for passive transport.
· Use a soft bristle brush to loosen the grime and if possible a sprayer to wash it all off.· Loosen dust and debris from the motherboard and expansion cards with a soft bristle brush.· Use a good quality bristle brush - find one in your local health food shop.· Wet hair tends to stretch and break and is very vulnerable so never use a bristle brush on hair when wet.· Accumulations of dust can be removed with a small vacuum cleaner after loosening with a dry, soft bristle brush.· I find that bristle brushes are the best.· After removal, accentuate with the help of a round bristle brush.
· It is more likely, however, that it represents a short period of dry climate when there were frequent brush fires.· When I met with Burke in his office last week, he was stamping out the latest political brush fire.· By this point, I am doing a meltdown that makes Three Mile Island look like a brush fire.· The California Department of Forestry said the crash sparked a small brush fire that was quickly extinguished.
· Polly was standing in the middle of the floor, her hair brush raised above her head.
· Using a paint brush paint blue eyes and whiskers on to the rabbit's face and pink ears and a nose.· The rain began to fall, big sloppy drops as if some one were shaking out a paint brush.· Classical painters developed the use of animal hair, and the paint brush, as we know it, was born.· Then sprinkle on water and re-trowel in come loose-use an emulsion paint brush.· Finally, draw a moistened paint brush along the junctions of cove and backgrounds.· Whichever substance you use, put it on in as concentrated a form as you can using a large paint brush.· Additionally, paint brushes can be cleaned in water.· Cut out long thin strips for trimming around the top edge of the boat and fix on with a dampened paint brush.
· Her brush strokes mimic the uncertainty.· Every brush stroke told a story.· From the corner of my eye, I saw my frightened cousins obediently practicing their first brush strokes.
· If the flashing looks sound but is obviously porous, clean the surface thoroughly with a wire brush.· Keep a wire brush handy for this purpose and rub down the grill after finishing your cooking.· Action with a scraper and wire brush, using manual labour, would give the desired result.· Lightly sand scratches and chips with fine wet-and-dry paper, and remove all traces of rust with small wire brush.· We would imagine that the wire brush is very handy for cleaning up old iron and steel.· The inside of the fitting should be brushed out with a special wire brush and rubbed with wire wool.
VERB· Organic paints are often applied with a brush after the pot has been fired.· Apparently, sophistication and ennui can be easily applied with a brush.· Choose matt lipsticks for staying power; apply with a brush, working colour from outer to inner lip.· The felt is nailed to the block and sizing is applied with a brush to give the hat some stiffness.· Special fabric paint is applied using a stencil brush and then the design is fixed permanently by pressing with an iron.· It is applied with a brush, sponge or pad, left for a few minutes, and then rinsed off.
· Less than half an hour later she cleaned the brush in white spirit and pressed the lid of the tin noiselessly down.· As the man got up:, the barber cleaned him with a brush.· She carefully cleaned her brushes and put away the paints, then realised she was very hungry.
· The boy could feel Izzie's body brush past him as she crawled into a corner.· Of feeling the brush with power, and the greed of pushing defeat on to another child.· She could feel the warm brush of his breath and smell the maleness of him.· Thinly washed colour was applied, then blended with the brush and pushed around until it felt right.
· She picked up a brush and began to attack her hair.· Tom picked up a brush and moistened it in the turpentine cup.· Léonie picked up the brush and got going on her cousin's hair.
· When Leo put the brush and pan into her arms, she blinked up at him, startled out of her thoughts.· I think she smiled thinly, said little, and later put the brush in a drawer.· I have put away my brushes for ever, he said.· I put the brush on the side and carry on smoothing her hair with just my hands.
· By 1952 he was becoming all the more determined that the United States should not be tarred with the colonial brush.· I was tarred with the same brush, to a certain extent.
· Always make sure you clean your teeth properly, using a small-headed brush and only a pea-sized blob of toothpaste.· I brush my hair 100 strokes at a skirted dressing table, using a silver-backed brush.· If varnishing a floor, use a 6in brush or even a roller.· Paul Collins uses various brushes, portable easels and aluminum frames to keep his canvas stretched.· The dust is diabolical - at one stage you could be fired for using a sweeping brush and not a vacuum.· Glaze the tarts lightly with the reduced syrup, using a pastry brush, and bake 10 minutes.· I never find myself, fatigue in the voice, reminding Flaubert to hang up the bathmat or use the lavatory brush.· Whichever substance you use, put it on in as concentrated a form as you can using a large paint brush.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be/get tarred with the same brush
1object for cleaning/painting [countable] an object that you use for cleaning, painting, making your hair tidy etc, made with a lot of hairs, bristles, or thin pieces of plastic, fastened to a handle: - Refuse to sweep difficulties under the carpet but sort things out even when it is painful.
- We knew that it wouldn't just go away if we swept it under the carpet.
a scrubbing brush → hairbrush, nailbrush, paintbrush, toothbrush2trees [uncountable] a)small bushes and trees that cover an area of land b)branches that have broken off bushes and trees3movement [singular] a movement in which you brush something to remove dirt, make something smooth, tidy etc: I’ll just give my hair a quick brush.4touch [singular] a quick light touch, made by chance when two things or people pass each other: the brush of her silk dress as she walked past5[countable] a time when you only just avoid an unpleasant situation or argumentbrush with His first brush with the law came when he was 16. A brush with death can make you appreciate life more.6tail [countable] the tail of a foxbrush1 nounbrush2 verb
brushbrush2 ●●● S3 verb VERB TABLE
brush
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | brush |
| he, she, it | brushes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | brushed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have brushed |
| he, she, it | has brushed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had brushed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will brush |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have brushed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am brushing |
| he, she, it | is brushing | |
| you, we, they | are brushing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was brushing |
| you, we, they | were brushing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been brushing |
| he, she, it | has been brushing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been brushing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be brushing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been brushing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Brush the dough with melted butter.
- As she passed, her bare arm brushed against his arm, sending a shiver down his spine.
- Have you brushed your teeth yet?
- I brushed the crumbs off the sofa.
- I felt something brush against the back of my head.
- It's time for you kids to go brush your teeth.
- The car brushed the bush at the end of the driveway.
- The car brushed the hedges on both sides of the narrow lane.
- Use small strokes to brush on the paint.
- You should brush your jacket -- it's covered in dust.
- Bernard brushed his hands together then walked back to the door.
- Conference-goers, though, brushed aside the news as a blip on the political radar screen.
- Even Marshall had brushed aside all suggestions of having a few minutes to spare to give Harbury something exclusive.
- I brushed his back surreptitiously as I walked past.
- She stopped when something soft and fluttery brushed her face.
- The warm evening air brushed her face and tugged at her hair as the car sped south.
- When it was cut into ravioli, I decided, I would brush each one very lightly with egg white.
Longman Language Activatorto clean something with a brush
to clean something with a brush: · You should brush your jacket -- it's covered in dust.brush something off: · I brushed the crumbs off the sofa.brush your teeth: · Have you brushed your teeth yet?
to clean something by rubbing it hard with a brush and some water or soap: · Part of my job was to wash the dishes and scrub the floors.· Scrub the potatoes and boil them for 5-10 minutes.
to clean the floor or the ground using a brush with a long handle: · When everyone had left, Ed swept the floor.sweep up something/sweep something up (=remove something from a floor by sweeping): · Can you help me sweep up all the pieces of glass?
to rub a cooking pan or hard surface with a piece of rough material in order to clean it: · I scoured the pots and pans.· Scour the bowl with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
to make something better to make something better: · I wanted to improve my French, so I got a job in Paris.· The funds will go towards improving road and rail services.· By managing natural resources more effectively, our quality of human life could be improved greatly.
to improve a situation or improve someone's life: · Instead of making the traffic situation better, the new road has just made things worse.· You won't make things any better by worrying about them.· Have computers really made life better for everyone?
to make changes to something or add things to it in order to make it better, more useful, or more effective: · After we've made a few improvements, the software should be fine.make improvements to: · Several improvements have been made to the original designs.· They made a lot of improvements to the house after they moved in.
British /whip something into shape especially American informal to make changes to something in order to make it good enough: · We've only got one week left to knock the play into shape.· The new Chief Executive is whipping the company into shape and making it more competitive.
to improve something such as machinery, a building, or a system by making it more modern, effective, and successful: · The city has recently spent $3 million on upgrading its sports stadium.· It was decided that the entire computer system should be upgraded.· Since July, the airport has upgraded security measures, at a cost of $560,000.
to improve a system or process by making it more simple and therefore faster and more effective: · The new system is an attempt to streamline the decision-making process.· Apple is going to streamline its operations and concentrate development efforts on the Internet and multimedia.
to improve standards of behaviour in a place or organization, especially by removing dishonest or criminal people: clean up something: · It's time someone cleaned up this city; we have one of the highest crime rates in the country.· Most clubs have made a big effort to clean up football's image.clean something up: · The management of some our prisons has sometimes been corrupt, and it is our job to clean it up.
also brush up something British especially spoken to practise doing something that you have not done for a long time in order to try to improve it: · I'd like to brush up on my Italian before our trip.· Public libraries frequently have computers that people can use to brush up their IT skills.
to touch someone or something accidentally · I'm sorry - I didn't mean to touch your sore arm.· The plane came down so low that it's wings touched the trees.
to touch something, especially when something else happens immediately as a result: · When the two chemicals come into contact, they explode.come into contact with: · If the cleaner comes into contact with your eyes, rinse well with warm water and contact a doctor.· As many as 25 workers at the laboratory may have come into contact with the infected monkeys.
to accidentally touch someone or something lightly when passing them: · The car brushed the hedges on both sides of the narrow lane.brush against: · I felt something brush against the back of my head.· As she passed, her bare arm brushed against his arm, sending a shiver down his spine.
to touch something lightly when moving over it very quickly: · Seagulls skimmed the water, looking for fish.· He threw a flat stone and watched it skim the surface of the lake.· Planes skimmed the treetops as they flew in with tanks full of water to put out the fire.
to touch something lightly when passing it, sometimes causing damage: · The bullet grazed the corner of the building, just missing my arm.· I just barely grazed her bumper, but she's claiming I wrecked her car.
to wash your hands/face/body etc to clean yourself with soap and water: · Harry went upstairs to wash.wash your hands/face/hair etc: · She was washing her hair when the phone rang.· Have you boys washed your hands yet?
British /wash up American to wash your hands and face: · You'll feel better once you've had a wash and something to eat.· You kids go wash up now - dinner's nearly ready.
especially spoken to wash your face and hands so that you feel more comfortable, for example when you have been working hard or travelling: · The bathroom's on the right if you'd like to freshen up.· She hoped there would be time to freshen up before the interview.
to wash yourself after you have got dirty doing something: · I'll make the dinner - just give me chance to get cleaned up first.· He's upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up.
to get washed and make yourself look tidy or change your clothes: · She went into the washroom at the airport to get spruced up before meeting the others.
also clean your teeth British to clean your teeth with a small brush: · Have you brushed your teeth this morning?· I cleaned my teeth, flattened down my hair, and rushed out of the door.
to clean your hands or face by gently rubbing them with a cloth or with your hand: · Wipe your face. There's chocolate all around your mouth.· Wiping his oily hands on a piece of cloth, he reached into his pocket and handed me the bill.
to clean your skin, especially using a special liquid cream: · This lotion cleanses your skin deep down, while preserving its natural pH balance.
to wash your hair with shampoo (=a special liquid soap for washing hair): · It's a new conditioner. Simply shampoo your hair, towel dry, and spray it in.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He brushed aside criticisms of his performance. She gave him the brush-off. I tried to be friendly but I just got the brush-off. She’s as daft as a brush (=extremely silly).
He brushed aside criticisms of his performance. She gave him the brush-off. I tried to be friendly but I just got the brush-off. She’s as daft as a brush (=extremely silly).· Wash the dirt off those boots before you come in.
(=a very large fire in an area of grass)· There were frequent brush fires during the hot dry summers.
· He cleaned his teeth and brushed his hair.
(also clean your teeth British English)· I brush my teeth twice a day.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Emanuel Shinwell's rhetoric, and the arguments which Crosland himself had developed in his writing, could not be brushed aside.· He related how the fathers repeatedly brushed aside his request to be released.· Corbett courteously thanked his hosts and, gently brushing aside their invitations, insisted on leaving at once.· Holmes brushed aside an offer to wait, and we descended a set of echoing stone stairs.· And when a problem can not be brushed aside, then a scapegoat must be found.· All the assurances that the treaty would not inaugurate an arms race or cost the United States anything were brushed aside.· She was brushing aside her own contribution, saying it was one thing to be seen but another to do something positive.· But he brushed aside charges that government overspending, corruption and its seizure of farms are to blame.
· He emerged, shaken and slightly puzzled, long hair filled with leaves which he brushed away.· This means, in the two preview episodes, brushing away canons of ethics like cobwebs.· He frowned, screwed up his mouth and brushed away the letter.· It is easy enough to imagine brushing away a meter or so of dry dust covering an ice deposit.· Biting hard on her lower lip, Isabel brushed away a traitorous tear.· Her body was unusually still and a fly had settled on her cheek, which she did not try to brush away.· After comforting the little girl and brushing away her tears, Laura had taken the children upstairs to the nursery.· Odysseus knew him too and brushed away a tear.
· Sleek city style is waved and brushed back into a soft full shape for casual dressing.· Her dark hair is brushed back in a short, stylish cut.· He was thick-set, with thinning hair brushed back, a magnificent walrus moustache and several missing teeth.· She brushed back her hair, which had fallen over her eyes.· She couldn't speak, could not even think while his thumb was brushing back and forth across her mouth like that.· She rose suddenly and brushed back the tears, crying would get her nowhere.· Her hair was snow-white and brushed back into a neat bun.
· Placing his hand on the top of Joe's thigh, he gently brushed his knuckles against the man's groin.· Corbett courteously thanked his hosts and, gently brushing aside their invitations, insisted on leaving at once.· When completely dry, gently brush the surface to align the fibres.· One of its paws gently brushed Lowell's neck, a feather-light touch, the claws neatly encased in fur.· The prod is not to be confused with the caress which gently brushes a surface.
· Lightly brush with one tablespoon of melted butter, bake for 5-8 minutes until just soft.· Make the egg wash by whisking the egg and the water thoroughly together, and lightly brush the mixture on the dough.· He moved to touch her arms and she lightly brushed his lips with hers.· Put cookies on prepared sheets. Brush lightly with buttermilk and sprinkle with the remaining cup coconut and powdered sugar.· He shifted his weight so that his body brushed lightly against hers.· Up again, under his chin, now lightly brushing his mouth.· To finish the roses, lightly brush green colouring around edge of each petal.· Lightly brush the surface with water.
· Unshielded babies clinging to teats would soon be brushed off.· They brush off Elijah and board the ship, but they see no sign of the mysterious figures they saw boarding earlier.· But Hughes is hoping to brush off the knock in time to face League champions Leeds on Sunday.· Sprinkle on talcum powder, cornmeal or cornstarch; leave for two days; brush off.· The mortar should be dry enough to brush off the paving without staining the slabs.· He did not want to run the risk of being brushed off.· New Zealands should be brushed off, hosed down and dried before you put them away for the summer.· And it should be even easier to brush off the next three opponents.
· For the province's future Olympic hopefuls have been brushing up on skills both on and off the sports fields.· Walking through a crowded school hallway or playground is daunting because it means brushing up against so many bodies.· Did I make any deals, brush up any publishing contacts?· Public libraries frequently have computers that people can use to brush up on their skills.· I have already said how little I knew about cancer, and I now began to brush up on it.· Start at your feet and use long sweeping movements and even pressure, from knees to thighs. then brush up towards armpit.· The guide can be used an introduction to the hobby or as a means to brush up skills.
NOUN· She had not heard the door as it softly brushed the carpet.· Because both sides of the political divide are benefiting from the traffic, the issue is brushed under the carpet.· Two uniformed men were on their hands and knees, brushing at the carpet with their fingers.
· When he brushed his cheek against hers or supported her waist in multiple pirouettes the sensual heat was unmissable.· The great thick braid of spun metal hung over her shoulder, and brushed his cheek as she leaned over him.· A spider the size of her thumbnail dropped past her in the gloom, its legs brushing her cheek.· Death had brushed Dustin's cheek twice, threatening to take him first by fire and secondly by a bomb.· The rough tweed of his jacket brushed her cheek and she caught the scent of soap and his aftershave.· A rough chin brushing his cheek.· Michele's lips brushed first one cheek then the other, his tongue-tip gathering the twin tears.· No sigh of wind brushed David's cheek in the silence.
· He had brushed the crumbs from his desk top into his wastebasket.· The historian brushed crumbs from the tablecloth.· Balor had unbuttoned his jerkin and brushed the crumbs from his front and was preparing to take a snooze.
· She brushed dust off the toe.· She stopped for a moment to brush the dust from her hands and clothes and set off back to the house.· He brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve as he waited for the silence he required.· He brushed dust from his sleeve and headed towards the flight of stone steps that led up to the embankment.
· She cleaned her face, brushed her hair.· I washed my face and brushed my teeth.
· Run your fingers through your partner's hair several times, allowing your fingers to brush the scalp. 3.· Jack's fingers brushed against her skin as her shirt fell open and he felt her shiver gently at his touch.
· Maura pulled her to her feet and began to brush down Margaret's uniform, which was covered in grey dust.· Instinctively he waved it from his face before getting to his feet and brushing it from the lapels of his overcoat.
· Thick, immaculately cut ash-blonde hair brushed the padded silk shoulders of a black and white striped Roland Klein suit.· Thick, long silver-gray hair, brushed straight back, covered his well-shaped head.· He was thick-set, with thinning hair brushed back, a magnificent walrus moustache and several missing teeth.· Undaunted, he began nibbling her earlobe, as fine strands of hair brushed his face.· The hairs on his forearm brushed hers, he sat so close.· Fourth Aunt knelt silently, her hair brushing the ground.· Her face was washed and her hair brushed.· Her dark hair is brushed back in a short, stylish cut.
· Her hands brushed the keys, her head began to nod, then her body to tremble.· She leans over his shoulder to follow the music; her hand brushes his arm when she turns a page.· Two weeks ago we were given hand brushes to dust the machines in front of us.· As she raised a trembling hand to brush them away she heard him swearing softly under his breath.· As she reached up to pat his leg, the side of her hand brushed mine where I held him.· Then hold the ear up over the head with one hand and carefully brush the hair down.· Her hands brush unexpected surfaces, she steps across unfamiliar thresholds.
· I lift the long curls from my head and brush some life back into my flattened hair.· He patted my head, brushing his fingers across my ear, and I jerked away.· I really liked it, the way she moved my head and brushed her fingers through my hair.· Turning his head, he brushed his lips against her brow in silent question.
· She squirmed, but only until his lips brushed hers.· Our lips brushed, but our tongues did not mingle.· A moment later her arms were twining round his neck as his lips brushed hers as soft as gossamer.· Biting hard on her lower lip, Isabel brushed away a traitorous tear.· Michele's lips brushed first one cheek then the other, his tongue-tip gathering the twin tears.
· He frowned, screwed up his mouth and brushed away the letter.· His mouth plundered hers, brushing her lips, forcing entry with his tongue, demanding, demanding all the while.· She kept her head down, let her mouth brush the fibres of the carpet, caked with mud and dust.
· That helped his hangover, too, but he couldn't so easily brush off the questions about Katherine.
· Thick, immaculately cut ash-blonde hair brushed the padded silk shoulders of a black and white striped Roland Klein suit.· I could stand beside her as she fixed dinner, but if I brushed her shoulder she edged apart.· They jangled when she moved and brushed her creamy shoulders each time she turned her head.· The bobbed hair had grown and was brushing her shoulders.
· She absently brushed the tears from her cheeks and sniffed.· Odysseus knew him too and brushed away a tear.· Biting hard on her lower lip, Isabel brushed away a traitorous tear.· After comforting the little girl and brushing away her tears, Laura had taken the children upstairs to the nursery.· She brushed away the tear that she'd been totally unaware was slowly trickling down her face.· She rose suddenly and brushed back the tears, crying would get her nowhere.· Luce put the diary down and brushed away her tears.
· Slowly brush two teeth at a time, using small circular movements.· Even little boy Isopo brushes his teeth.· However deep the trouble, dinner, like brushing your teeth, had to happen.· When the vomiting stopped, he brushed his teeth.· She brushes her teeth with fluoride, but spits to deter the Evil Eye.· We managed to insert it into the schools: conflict resolution becomes as ordinary as brushing your teeth.· After brushing her teeth Polly struggled into the tracksuit she had brought along to double as a bathrobe.· Eat a clove of garlic in the bathroom in the guise of brushing your teeth.
VERB· He began brushing again. ` Huh!· I began brushing my hair, but when it came time to braid it up, I rebelled.· I have already said how little I knew about cancer, and I now began to brush up on it.· I began brushing it off, but as quickly as I did so, it settled again.· Maura pulled her to her feet and began to brush down Margaret's uniform, which was covered in grey dust.
· She would let me brush her hair some days.· Just let me brush your hair back and put on this Alice band.· She kept her head down, let her mouth brush the fibres of the carpet, caked with mud and dust.· She lets me brush her hair sometimes.
· Huy looked at her, reaching over to brush a last detail of natron away from her face.· From a decade of cobwebs and dyed glass she felt old leaf-like hands reach out and brush her.
· I stand up and brush my coat down.· I stood up and brushed myself off.· The man with the kidney lips folded his knife and stood up and brushed the whittle shavings out of his lap.· Jinju stood up, brushed the dirt off her backside with her bundle, and slowly headed home.
· However, if cracks do appear, you should try brushing a mixture of peat or compost and coarse sand into them.· Her body was unusually still and a fly had settled on her cheek, which she did not try to brush away.· Kruger tried to brush the dart from his robe.· When anyone tried to brush her hair, give her a bath, or change her diaper, it hurt.· A good guide is to try to brush your ear with your shoulder as it throws the rig.
· Her face was washed and her hair brushed.· I washed my face and brushed my teeth.· It has an open textured paste when ripe and is usually washed or brushed with brine.· She washed quickly and brushed her teeth, then returned to Nathan's cabin.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be/get tarred with the same brush
1clean/make tidy [transitive] to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush: - Give me a couple of minutes, will you? Brush yourself down while you're waiting.
- Refuse to sweep difficulties under the carpet but sort things out even when it is painful.
- We knew that it wouldn't just go away if we swept it under the carpet.
Don’t forget to brush your teeth.2remove [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove something with a brush or with your handbrush something off/from etc something Ella brushed the crumbs off her jacket. He brushed the tears from his eyes.3touch lightly [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to touch someone or something lightly when passing them: Something brushed her shoulders.brush against I felt her hair brush against my arm.brush past Nell brushed past him in the doorway.4put something on something [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put a liquid onto something using a brushbrush something with something Brush the pastry with milk.brush something over/onto something Brush a little oil over the top of the pizza. → brush something under the carpet at sweep1(15)brush somebody/something ↔ aside phrasal verb to refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider something SYN dismiss: He simply brushed all my objections aside.brush somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb1to clean something using a brush: He was brushing the pony down.2brush yourself down to use your hands to remove dirt from your clothes, especially after you have fallenbrush somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb to refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude: Corman brushed off the accusations. → brush-offbrush up (on) something phrasal verb to practise and improve your skills or your knowledge of something that you learned in the past: I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.- demijohn
- demilitarization
- demilitarize
- De Mille, Agnes
- DeMille, Cecil B.
- demining
- demise
- demist
- demister
- demo
- demob
- demob happy
- demobilization
- demobilize
- democracy
- Democrat
- democrat
- Democratic
- democratic
- democratically
- Democratic Party
- Democratic Unionist Party
- democratization
- democratize
- demographer