# brush

> English word · Noun · IPA /bɹʌʃ/ · frequency rank #4,828

## Definitions
1. An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including cleaning, painting, and arranging hair.
2. The act of brushing something.
3. A piece of conductive material, usually carbon, serving to maintain electrical contact between the stationary and rotating parts of a machine.
4. A brush-like electrical discharge of sparks.
5. Wild vegetation, generally larger than grass but smaller than trees. See shrubland.
6. A short, possibly recurrent encounter or experience.
7. The furry tail of an animal, especially of a fox.
8. A tuft of hair on the mandibles.
9. A short contest, or trial, of speed.
10. An instrument, resembling a brush, used to produce a soft sound from drums or cymbals.
11. An on-screen tool for "painting" a particular colour or texture.
12. A set of defined design and parameters that produce drawn strokes of a certain texture and quality.
13. In 3D video games, a convex polyhedron, especially one that defines structure of the play area.
14. The floorperson of a poker room, usually in a casino.
15. Evergreen boughs, especially balsam, locally cut and baled for export, usually for use in making wreaths.

## Etymology
From Middle English brusshe, from Old French broisse (Modern French brosse), from Vulgar Latin *brustia, from Frankish *bursti, from Proto-Germanic *burstiz (“bristle”), or also Vulgar Latin *bruscia, from Proto-Germanic *bruskaz (“tuft, thicket, underbrush”), which could be from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrusgo-.

## Easily confused with
- **bus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-bus)
- **busy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-busy)
- **bush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-bush)
- **bust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-bust)
- **buss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-buss)
- **bruv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-bruv)
- **brut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-brut)
- **brute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-brute)
- **Busch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-busch)
- **bushy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-bushy)
- **brushed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-brushed)
- **brutish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brush-vs-brutish)
- **bru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bru-vs-brush)
- **bros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bros-vs-brush)
- **bash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bash-vs-brush)
- **bruh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bruh-vs-brush)
- **brah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brah-vs-brush)
- **bosh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bosh-vs-brush)
- **Bruce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bruce-vs-brush)
- **brass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brass-vs-brush)

## Common misspellings (8)
`bbrush`, `brrush`, `brsuh`, `bruhs`, `brushh`, `brussh`, `bursh`, `rbush`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brush