Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Of fabrics) Having a soft, raised surface: Describes textiles that have been treated with a brushing process to create a soft, fuzzy, or napped texture.
   • (Of hair or clothing) Groomed with a brush: Describes something that has been made neat, smooth, or tidy by using a brush.
   • Touched lightly in passing; grazed: Describes a brief, light, and often unintentional contact.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Fabric):

  • She wore a comfortable brushed cotton shirt.
  • The brushed fleece was incredibly soft to the touch.

• Adjective (Groomed):

  • He arrived with his hair neatly brushed.
  • The brushed wool coat looked elegant and well-maintained.

• Adjective (Light contact):

  • Her hand brushed against mine as we passed in the hallway.
  • I felt a brushed sensation on my arm, like a feather had touched it.

Advanced Usage

• "Brushed aside": Dismissed or ignored something as unimportant.
  • He brushed aside my concerns and continued with the plan.
• "Brushed up against": Came into slight, often figurative, contact with an idea, group, or experience.
  • During his travels, he brushed up against many different cultures.

Variants and Related Words

• Brush (verb): To clean, smooth, or apply with a brush; to touch lightly.
• Brushing (noun): The act or process of using a brush; a light touch.
• Unbrushed (adjective): Not groomed with a brush; messy.

Synonyms

• For fabric: Napped, fleecy, soft, fuzzy.
• For groomed: Combed, smoothed, neatened.
• For light contact: Grazed, skimmed, touched, glanced.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Brush off: To dismiss someone or something rudely or casually.
  • She tried to apologize, but he just brushed her off.
• Brush up (on): To review or improve one's knowledge or skill in something.
  • I need to brush up on my French before the trip.

Related Idioms

• Have a brush with (something): To have a brief, often close, encounter with something, typically something dangerous or significant.
  • He had a brush with the law when he was younger.
• Tarred with the same brush: Considered to have the same faults as someone else, often unfairly.
  • Just because his brother was dishonest, people tarred him with the same brush.

Adjective

1. (of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
   • a dress of brushed cotton
   • a fleecy lining
   • napped fabrics
2. (of hair or clothing) groomed with a brush
   • with shining hair neatly brushed
   • the freshly brushed clothes hung in the closet
3. touched lightly in passing; grazed against
   • of all the people brushed against in a normal day on a city street I remember not a one