brushing

4 definitions • 8 examples

present participle of

to touch (something) quickly and lightly or carelessly:

brush against Charlotte brushed against him as she left the room.

His lips gently brushed her cheek and he was gone.

to move something somewhere using a brush or your hand:

Jackie brushed the hair out of her eyes.

brush something away He brushed away a tear.

She stood up and brushed the wrinkles from her dress.

to clean something or make something smooth with a brush:

brush your teeth When did he last brush his teeth, she wondered.

brush your hair She brushed her hair with long, regular strokes.

[ + obj + adj ] My trousers got covered in mud, but luckily I was able to brush them clean.