3. (Zo["o]l.) A tuft of hair on the mandibles.
4. Branches of trees lopped off; brushwood.
5. A thicket of shrubs or small trees; the shrubs and small
trees in a wood; underbrush.
6. (Elec.) A bundle of flexible wires or thin plates of
metal, used to conduct an electrical current to or from
the commutator of a dynamo, electric motor, or similar
apparatus.
7. The act of brushing; as, to give one's clothes a brush; a
rubbing or grazing with a quick motion; a light touch; as,
we got a brush from the wheel as it passed.
[As leaves] have with one winter's brush Fell from
their boughts. --Shak.
8. A skirmish; a slight encounter; a shock or collision; as,
to have a brush with an enemy.
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And
tempt not yet the brushes of the war. --Shak.
9. A short contest, or trial, of speed.
Let us enjoy a brush across the country. --Cornhill
Mag.
{Electrical brush}, a form of the electric discharge
characterized by a brushlike appearance of luminous rays
diverging from an electrified body.
2. To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as with a
brush.
Some spread their sailes, some with strong oars
sweep The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave.
--Fairfax.
Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings. --Milton.
3. To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of
brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind; -- commonly
with off.
As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed With raven's
feather from unwholesome fen. --Shak.
And from the boughts brush off the evil dew.
--Milton.
{To brush aside}, to remove from one's way, as with a brush.
{To brush away}, to remove, as with a brush or brushing
motion.
{To brush up}, to paint, or make clean or bright with a
brush; to cleanse or improve; to renew.
You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I
have done my best to brush you up like your
neighbors. --Pope.
Snatching his hat, he brushed off like the wind.
--Goldsmith.