brass

American  

[bras, brahs] / bræs, brɑs /

noun

brasses plural

1. any of various metal alloys consisting mainly of copper and zinc.

2. a utensil, ornament, or other article made of such an alloy.

3. Music.

   1. brass instrument.

   2. brass instruments collectively in a band or orchestra.

4. metallic yellow; lemon, amber, or reddish yellow.

5. Informal.

   1. high-ranking military officers.

   2. any very important officials.

6. Informal. excessive self-assurance; impudence; effrontery.

   Synonyms:

   chutzpa, gall, brashness, nerve, cheek

7. Machinery. a replaceable semicylindrical shell, usually of bronze, used with another such to line a bearing; a half bushing.

8. British. a memorial tablet or plaque, often incised with an effigy, coat of arms, or the like.

9. Furniture. any piece of ornamental or functional hardware, as a drawer pull, made of brass.

10. British Slang. money.

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adjective

1. of, made of, or pertaining to brass.

2. composed for or using musical instruments made of brass.

3. having the color brass.

brass British  

/ brɑːs /

noun

1. an alloy of copper and zinc containing more than 50 per cent of copper. Alpha brass (containing less than 35 per cent of zinc) is used for most engineering materials requiring forging, pressing, etc Alpha-beta brass (35–45 per cent zinc) is used for hot working and extrusion. Beta brass (45–50 per cent zinc) is used for castings. Small amounts of other metals, such as lead or tin, may be added Compare bronze

2. an object, ornament, or utensil made of brass

3. 1. the large family of wind instruments including the trumpet, trombone, French horn, etc, each consisting of a brass tube blown directly by means of a cup- or funnel-shaped mouthpiece

   2. (sometimes functioning as plural) instruments of this family forming a section in an orchestra

   3. ( as modifier )

      a brass ensemble

4. a renewable sleeve or bored semicylindrical shell made of brass or bronze, used as a liner for a bearing

5. informal (functioning as plural) important or high-ranking officials, esp military officers See also brass hat

   the top brass

6. dialect money

   where there's muck, there's brass!

7. an engraved brass memorial tablet or plaque, set in the wall or floor of a church

8. informal bold self-confidence; cheek; nerve

   he had the brass to ask for more time

9. slang a prostitute

10. (modifier) of, consisting of, or relating to brass or brass instruments

    a brass ornament

    a brass band

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brass Scientific  

/ brăs /

1. A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. It sometimes includes small amounts of other metals. Brass is strong, ductile, and resistant to many forms of corrosion.

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brass Cultural  

1. Musical instruments traditionally made of brass and played by blowing directly into a small, cup-shaped mouthpiece. They include the French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.

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brass Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing brass

• bold as brass
• double in brass
• get down to brass tacks

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• brassish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• brasses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of brass

before 1000; 1945–50 brass for def. 5; Middle English bras, Old English bræs; cognate with Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal

Explanation

Brass is a shiny, gold-colored metal that is an alloy of zinc and copper. You'll see brass everywhere once you start looking: in doorknobs, lamps and light fixtures, zippers, and tools. Because brass is both workable and strong, it's used in musical instruments (in fact, there's a whole category of instruments known as brass, including saxophones and trumpets). It's also a low-friction metal, so it's preferred for ammunition casings, gears, and locks. And brass is shiny and cheerful, so people like to use it in light fittings, plaques, and sculptures. High-ranking military members are informally known as brass, inspired by the insignia on their uniforms.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

brass brasses

On Wilkins’ program, Valerie Coleman’s dark “Fanfare for Uncommon Times” brought a listener inside brass and percussion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026

Ukraine's ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov was just six months in the role before his ambitious drive to reform the military led to unreconciliable clashes with the country's top brass.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

McLean’s business helped the Pentagon, but his idea wouldn’t have succeeded without military brass forcing rival shippers to agree on common container designs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Following the arrival of the royal couple in the debating chamber, the celebration began with a fanfare performed by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland brass ensemble.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

He fished out a brass skeleton key with a tiny kohlrabi at the end.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

The orchestra, from the pointed brasses to the curling woodwinds, found its way to unanimity of utterance.

From New York Times ● May 5, 2023

Corrosive brasses and heated strings enlivened the Respighi’s first movement, and gray-toned woodwinds, transparent violins, and luxuriant cellos and basses colored the second.

From New York Times ● May 5, 2023

"Several thousand brasses and other artefacts - collectively known as the 'Benin Bronzes' - were taken by the British, and subsequently sold off in London to recoup the costs of the military mission."

From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2022

The cellos were unctuous in the Scherzo, part of a kaleidoscope of sickness and sourness that never became grotesque; the violas seemed to feed off the heat of the brasses.

From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2022

The harness was polished and the horse brasses glittered like gold.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck