What is brush? Pronunciation and usage in English

brush means . Learn how to pronounce and use brush through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of brush

brushnoun/verb

/brʌʃ/
Definition & pronunciation of brush

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "brush" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and which one you use depends on where you are from:

1. American Pronunciation (Most Common):

  • Sounds like: "bruſh" (like "brush" but with a shorter, sharper "u" sound)
  • Breakdown:
    • "br-": Pronounced like the "br" in "brother."
    • "ush": This is the tricky part. It's a short, almost clipped "uh" sound followed by a "sh" sound, similar to the "us" in "bus" but much tighter. It’s not a full "sh" as in "ship."

2. British Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: "bruſh" (very similar to the American pronunciation, but sometimes with a slightly more rounded 'u')
  • Breakdown: Very similar to the American pronunciation.

Here's how to practice:

  1. Say "bruSH" (with the long "u" sound - as in "boot") - This is a common mistake!
  2. Try to make that "u" sound shorter and more like a "uh" sound. It's a subtle difference.
  3. Focus on the "sh" sound at the end. Don’t overdo it; it's not a strong "sh."

Resources to help you hear the pronunciation:

To help me give you even more targeted feedback, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc.) Knowing your native accent helps me tailor the pronunciation tips.

Usage and examples with the word brush in English

Let's break down how to use the word "brush" in English! It's a really versatile word with many different meanings and uses. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Verb (Action - To Touch Lightly)

  • Cleaning: This is probably the most common use.
    • "I brush my teeth twice a day."
    • "She brushes the table after dinner."
    • "He brushes his car to make it shine."
    • "They brush the floors every week."
  • Hair/Fur:
    • "She brushes her hair every morning."
    • "He brushes his dog's fur to remove the dirt."
  • Painting:
    • "He brushes paint onto the wall."
    • "The artist brushes with delicate strokes."
  • Surface Preparation (Before Painting/Wallpapering):
    • "We need to brush the wall before applying the wallpaper."
  • Moving Quickly/Passing By:
    • "The car brushed past me on the road." (Meaning it barely touched me)
    • "The wind brushed the leaves off the trees." (A fleeting touch)

2. As a Noun (Object)

  • Brush (Cleaning): A tool for cleaning.
    • "I use a brush to clean the windows."
    • "She has a silk brush for her hair."
    • "He bought a new brush for his makeup."
  • Paint Brush: Specifically a tool for applying paint.
  • Toothbrush: The tool you use to brush your teeth.
  • Makeup Brush: Used for applying makeup.
  • Street Brush: A tool used to sweep streets.
  • Hair Brush: As mentioned above, the tool for grooming hair.

3. As a Verb (Figurative - To Briefly Encounter)

  • To briefly encounter or meet someone:
    • "I brushed shoulders with [celebrity's name] at the party." (Meaning you saw them briefly and were near them.)
    • “I brushed past him in the hallway.” (You quickly passed by without interaction)
  • To give a fleeting impression: (Less common)
    • "Her words brushed against my mind."

4. Phrasal Verbs (Verb + Preposition/Particle)

  • Brush up on: To review or improve your knowledge of something.
    • "I need to brush up on my Spanish before the trip."
  • Brush off: To dismiss something as unimportant or to avoid dealing with something.
    • "He brushed off her concerns."
  • Brush aside: Similar to "brush off," but often implies dismissing something forcefully.
  • Brush up: (rare) To quickly improve a skill or knowledge.

Tips for Using "Brush" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of "brush" depends heavily on the context. Pay attention to the surrounding words.
  • Consider the Action: If you are talking about cleaning or grooming, it's almost always a verb.
  • Be Aware of Figurative Usage: The figurative uses of "brush" are less common and can be a bit tricky.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me tailor the explanation even more, could you tell me:

  • What specifically are you trying to use "brush" for? (e.g., "I want to know how to say I brush my teeth," or "I want to use it in a sentence about painting?")

Synonyms for the word brush

Practice with vocabulary brush

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. She always makes sure to ___ her teeth before going to bed.
  2. The artist picked up a ___ to start painting the landscape.
  3. He used a cloth to ___ the dust off the old bookshelf.
  4. Please ___ the vegetables gently before cooking them.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. What do you use to clean your teeth?
    a) comb
    b) brush
    c) broom
    d) sponge

  2. Which tool is commonly used for applying paint?
    a) rake
    b) brush
    c) hammer
    d) scissors

  3. She decided to ___ her hair before the meeting.
    a) wash
    b) comb
    c) brush
    d) dry

  4. What is the best way to remove dirt from a carpet?
    a) vacuum
    b) scrub
    c) sweep
    d) wipe

  5. Which of these is used to clean floors?
    a) mop
    b) brush
    c) sponge
    d) rag

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: She cleaned her hair with a comb.
    Rewrite: She used a brush to tidy her hair.

  2. Original: He applied paint to the wall using a roller.
    Rewrite: He painted the wall with a brush.

  3. Original: She wiped the dust off the table with a cloth.
    Rewrite: She cleaned the table with a duster.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. brush
  2. brush
  3. wipe
  4. rinse

Exercise 2:

  1. b) brush
  2. b) brush
  3. c) brush
  4. a) vacuum
  5. a) mop

Exercise 3:

  1. She used a brush to tidy her hair.
  2. He painted the wall with a brush.
  3. She cleaned the table with a duster.

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