bro wnie point (brownie points ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If someone does something to score brownie points , they do it because they think they will be praised for it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ with ] They're just trying to score brownie points with politicians.
brown|ish /braʊ n I ʃ/ COLOUR Something that is brownish is slightly brown in colour.
bro wn-no sing N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone of brown-nosing , you are saying in a rather offensive way that they are agreeing with someone important in order to get their support. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Brown-nosing of the power brokers won't save you.
brown|stone /braʊ nstoʊn/ (brownstones ) N‑COUNT In the United States, a brownstone is a type of house which was built during the 19th century. Brownstones have a front that is made from a reddish-brown stone.
browse /braʊ z/ (browses , browsing , browsed )
1 VERB If you browse in a shop, you look at things in a fairly casual way, in the hope that you might find something you like. □ [V ] I stopped in several bookstores to browse. □ [V prep/adv] I'm just browsing around. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Browse is also a noun. □ [+ around ] …a browse around the shops.
2 VERB If you browse through a book or magazine, you look through it in a fairly casual way. □ [V prep] …sitting on the sofa browsing through the TV pages of the paper.
3 VERB If you browse on a computer, you search for information in computer files or on the internet. [COMPUTING ] □ [V adv/prep] Try browsing around in the network bulletin boards.
4 VERB When animals browse , they feed on plants. □ [V ] …the three red deer stags browsing 50 yards from my lodge on the fringes of the forest. [Also V + on , V n]
brows|er /braʊ zə r / (browsers )
1 N‑COUNT A browser is a piece of computer software that you use to search for information on the internet. [COMPUTING ]
2 N‑COUNT A browser is someone who browses in a shop. □ …a casual browser.
bruise /bruː z/ (bruises , bruising , bruised )
1 N‑COUNT A bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body, although the skin is not broken. □ How did you get that bruise on your cheek? □ She was treated for cuts and bruises.
2 VERB If you bruise a part of your body, a bruise appears on it, for example because something hits you. If you bruise easily, bruises appear when something hits you only slightly. □ [V n] I had only bruised my knee. □ [V adv] Some people bruise more easily than others. ● bruised ADJ □ I escaped with severely bruised legs.
3 VERB If a fruit, vegetable, or plant bruises or is bruised , it is damaged by being handled roughly, making a mark on the skin. □ [V n] Choose a warm, dry day to cut them off the plants, being careful not to bruise them. □ [V -ed] …bruised tomatoes and cucumbers. □ [V adv] Be sure to store them carefully as they bruise easily. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Bruise is also a noun. □ …bruises on the fruit's skin.
4 VERB [usu passive] If you are bruised by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel unhappy or upset. □ [be V -ed] The government will be severely bruised by yesterday's events. ● bruis|ing ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …the bruising experience of near-bankruptcy.
bruis|er /bruː zə r / (bruisers ) N‑COUNT A bruiser is someone who is tough, strong, and aggressive, and enjoys a fight or argument. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He has a reputation as a political bruiser.
bruis|ing /bruː z I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If someone has bruising on their body, they have bruises on it. [FORMAL ] □ She had quite severe bruising and a cut lip.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] In a bruising battle or encounter, people fight or compete with each other in a very aggressive or determined way. [JOURNALISM ] □ The administration hopes to avoid another bruising battle over civil rights.
Brum|mie /brʌ mi/ (Brummies ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Brummie means belonging to or coming from Birmingham in England. [INFORMAL ] ● N‑COUNT A Brummie is someone who comes from Birmingham.
brunch /brʌ ntʃ/ (brunches ) N‑VAR Brunch is a meal that is eaten in the late morning. It is a combination of breakfast and lunch.
bru|nette /bruːne t/ (brunettes ) N‑COUNT A brunette is a white-skinned woman or girl with dark brown hair.
brunt /brʌ nt/ PHRASE To bear the brunt or take the brunt of something unpleasant means to suffer the main part or force of it. □ Young people are bearing the brunt of unemployment. □ A child's head tends to take the brunt of any fall.
bru|schet|ta /bruːʃe tə/ (bruschettas ) N‑VAR Bruschetta is a slice of toasted bread which is brushed with olive oil and usually covered with chopped tomatoes.
brush ◆◇◇ /brʌ ʃ/ (brushes , brushing , brushed )
1 N‑COUNT A brush is an object which has a large number of bristles or hairs fixed to it. You use brushes for painting, for cleaning things, and for tidying your hair. □ We gave him paint and brushes. □ Stains are removed with buckets of soapy water and scrubbing brushes. □ …a hair brush.
2 VERB If you brush something or brush something such as dirt off it, you clean it or tidy it using a brush. □ [V n] Have you brushed your teeth? □ [V n prep] She brushed the powder out of her hair. □ [V n with adv] Using a small brush, he brushed away the fine sawdust. ● N‑SING Brush is also a noun. □ I gave it a quick brush with my hairbrush.