brush
Translation
to brush, to graze, to touch lightly
Examples
You should brush your teeth twice a day.
You should brush your teeth twice a day.
He brushed past me in the hallway.
He brushed past me in the hallway.
She brushed the dust off her coat.
She brushed the dust off her coat.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to clean or tidy (sth.) with a brush You should brush your teeth twice a day.
((past/by sb./sth.)) to touch (sb./sth.) lightly while passing He brushed past me in the hallway.
((sth.)) ((off/from sth.)) to remove (sth.) from a surface She brushed the dust off her coat.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sweep, comb, graze, skim
Etymology
From Old French 'broisse' (a brush), of Germanic origin.
Memory Tips
Imagine the action of using different kinds of brushes: a toothbrush, a hairbrush, a paintbrush.