brush up


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Related to brush up: at first, pass along

brush 1

 (brŭsh)
n.
1.
a. An implement typically consisting of bristles fastened into a handle, used in scrubbing, polishing, grooming, or applying a liquid.
b. The act of using this implement.
2.
a. A sweeping stroke of the hand, as in removing something.
b. A light touch in passing; a graze.
c. An instance of contact with something undesirable or dangerous: a brush with the law; a brush with death.
3. A bushy tail: the brush of a fox.
4. A sliding connection completing a circuit between a fixed and a moving conductor.
5. A snub; a brushoff.
v. brushed, brush·ing, brush·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To clean, polish, or groom with a brush: brush one's teeth; brush the dog's coat.
b. To apply with a brush: brushed shellac onto the wood.
c. To remove with a brush or with sweeping strokes: brushed dirt from his pants.
2. To touch lightly in passing; graze against.
v.intr.
1. To use a brush.
2. To make sweeping strokes with the hand.
3. To touch something lightly in moving past.
Phrasal Verbs:
brush aside/off
To dismiss abruptly or curtly: brushed the matter aside; brushed an old friend off.
brush back Baseball
To force (a batter) to move away from the plate by throwing an inside pitch.
brush up
To refresh one's memory or renew one's skill regarding (something).

[Middle English brushe, twigs used as a broom or a brush to clean, painter's brush, from Old French brosse, brushwood, brush; see brush2.]

brush′er n.
brush′y adj.
Synonyms: brush1, glance1, graze2, shave, skim
These verbs mean to make light contact with something in passing: Her arm brushed mine. His fist glanced his opponent's chin. The keel grazed bottom in the shallow water. The front tire shaved the curb. The oars skimmed the pond's surface.

brush 2

 (brŭsh)
n.
1.
a. Dense vegetation consisting of shrubs or small trees.
b. Land covered by such a growth.
2. Cut or broken branches.

[Middle English brushe, from Old French brosse, brushwood, from Vulgar Latin *bruscia, perhaps from Latin bruscum, knot on a maple.]

brush′y adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

brush up

vb (adverb)
1. (often foll by: on) to refresh one's knowledge, skill, or memory of (a subject)
2. to make (a person or oneself) tidy, clean, or neat as after a journey
n
Brit the act or an instance of tidying one's appearance (esp in the phrase wash and brush-up)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.brush up - refresh one's memory; "I reviewed the material before the test"
recall, recollect, remember, call back, call up, retrieve, think - recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection; "I can't remember saying any such thing"; "I can't think what her last name was"; "can you remember her phone number?"; "Do you remember that he once loved you?"; "call up memories"
2.brush up - bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state; "polish your social manners"
perfect, hone - make perfect or complete; "perfect your French in Paris!"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
osvěžitoživitpřipomenout
friske up
hressa upp á, rifja upp
tazelemek

w>brush up

vt sep
crumbs, dirtauffegen, aufkehren
wool, napaufrauen, rauen (form)
(fig: also brush up on) subject, one’s Germanauffrischen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

brush

(braʃ) noun
1. an instrument with bristles, wire, hair etc for cleaning, scrubbing etc. a toothbrush; He sells brushes.
2. an act of brushing.
3. a bushy tail of a fox.
4. a disagreement. a slight brush with the law.
verb
1. to rub with a brush. He brushed his jacket.
2. to remove (dust etc) by sweeping with a brush. brush the floor.
3. to make tidy by using a brush. Brush your hair!
4. to touch lightly in passing. The leaves brushed her face.
brush aside
to pay no attention to. She brushed aside my objections.
brush away
to wipe off. She brushed away a tear; She brushed it away.
brush up (with on)
to refresh one's knowledge of (eg a language). He brushed up his Spanish before he went on holiday.
give, get the brush-off
to reject or be rejected abruptly.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in periodicals archive ?
UAECe residents are being urged to brush up on their dental hygiene.
"Our research shows that some grown-ups still really need to brush up on their foodie knowledge," Caroline Evans, from Potato Council, said.
Brush up towards your heart, starting at your ankles and working up to your tummy.