Library / English Dictionary

BRUSH UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state

Example:

polish your social manners

Synonyms:

brush up; polish; polish up; round; round off

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "brush up" is one way to...):

hone; perfect (make perfect or complete)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Refresh one's memory

Example:

I reviewed the material before the test

Synonyms:

brush up; refresh; review

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "brush up" is one way to...):

call back; call up; recall; recollect; remember; retrieve; think (recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

brushup (practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory)

Credits