French word

brosse

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁɔs/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhairbrush

Example

Elle prend sa brosse pour se coiffer.

She picks up her hairbrush to do her hair.

Illustration for brosse (hairbrush)

More examples

J'ai acheté une nouvelle brosse à dents.

I bought a new toothbrush.

Core concept

A bristled tool that passes over hair or material, leaving it smoother, more orderly, or cleaner.

Common phrases

  • brosse à dents

    toothbrush

  • brosse à cheveux

    hairbrush

  • brosse à chaussures

    shoe brush

Similar words

peigne: A flat tool with teeth for removing hair tangles and making a part.
brosse à dents: A small tool with bristles for cleaning dirt and food from the teeth.
balai: A long-handled tool with bristles or twigs for sweeping up floor or ground debris.

Definition in French

Objet composé de poils ou de fibres fixés sur un support, servant à démêler, lisser ou enlever des saletés d'une surface.

Word origin

Brosse is an inherited French form from Old French broce or brosse, whose earlier sense concerned brushwood and extended to a bristled tool.

Usage tips

  • Brosse and peigne are not interchangeable: a peigne has teeth, while a brosse has bristles.

Other meanings

  • brushnoun

Related words

  • brosserbrushverb
  • brossagebrushingnoun
  • brossébrushedadjective

Word lists with this word