A brush is an object which has a large number of bristles or hairs fixed to it. You use brushes for painting, for cleaning things, and for tidying your hair.

If you brush something or brush something such as dirt off it, you clean it or tidy it using a brush.

If you brush something with a liquid, you apply a layer of that liquid using a brush.

If you brush something somewhere, you remove it with quick light movements of your hands.

If one thing brushes against another or if you brush one thing against another, the first thing touches the second thing lightly while passing it.

If you brush past someone or brush by them, you almost touch them as you go past them.

If you have a brush with someone, you have an argument or disagreement with them. You use brush when you want to make an argument or disagreement sound less serious than it really is.

If you have a brush with a particular situation, usually an unpleasant one, you almost experience it.

Brush is an area of rough open land covered with small bushes and trees. You also use brush to refer to the bushes and trees on this land.