tooth-brush

A child brushes their teeth with a tooth-brush before bed.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brush used for cleaning teeth: "tooth-brush" refers to a small brush with a handle and bristles, used with toothpaste to clean the teeth and gums.

Usage Examples

• (A brush for cleaning teeth during a trip.)
• (A personal hygiene tool for dental care.)

Advanced Usage

• "electric tooth-brush": a tooth-brush that operates with battery power, often with oscillating or vibrating bristles.

  • Many dentists recommend an electric tooth-brush for more effective plaque removal. (A powered version of the manual brush.)

• "tooth-brush holder": a container or stand for storing a tooth-brush.

  • He placed his tooth-brush in the holder after brushing. (A device for organizing the brush.)

Variants and Related Words

• Toothpaste (n): a paste or gel used with a tooth-brush for cleaning teeth.

  • She squeezed toothpaste onto her tooth-brush before brushing. (The cleaning agent used with the brush.)

• Brushing (n): the act of using a tooth-brush.

  • Proper brushing with a tooth-brush takes at least two minutes. (The action of cleaning teeth.)

Synonyms

• Dental brush: a synonym for tooth-brush, often used in professional contexts.
• Oral hygiene tool: a general term for devices used to clean teeth, including tooth-brushes.

Related Idioms

• "tooth-brush moustache": a style of moustache that is short and narrow, resembling the shape of a tooth-brush.
  • He grew a tooth-brush moustache for the costume party. (A facial hair style named after the brush.)

Phrasal Verbs (none directly associated with "tooth-brush")

• The word "tooth-brush" is a concrete noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs. However, the verb "brush" (as in "brush teeth") is related:
  • Brush off: to remove something by brushing, e.g., He brushed off the dust from his tooth-brush. (To clean the brush itself.)