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brass

[ bras, brahs ]

/ bræs, brɑs /

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See synonyms for brass on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

Music.

brass instrument.
brass instruments collectively in a band or orchestra.

metallic yellow; lemon, amber, or reddish yellow.

Informal.

high-ranking military officers.
any very important officials.

Informal. excessive self-assurance; impudence; effrontery.

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

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

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

British Slang. money.

adjective

of, made of, or pertaining to brass.

composed for or using musical instruments made of brass.

having the color brass.

OTHER WORDS FOR brass

6 cheek, nerve, brashness, gall, chutzpa.

See synonyms for brass on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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Origin of brass

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

OTHER WORDS FROM brass

brassish, adjective

Words nearby brass

brasil, brasilein, Brasília, brasilin, Braşov, brass, brassage, Brassaï, brassard, brass band, brassbound

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use brass in a sentence

A small group of vanguard companies have proven that it’s possible for every employee to enjoy the fruits of ownership—for everyone at work to be a self-managing “micropreneur” blessed with autonomy and a shot at the brass ring.
The biggest problem with capitalism? Not enough capitalists|jakemeth|November 21, 2020|Fortune
For the previous 28 years of the competition, finalists of Brandstorm have presented their pitches in person to members of the company’s top brass in Paris.
‘Focus on quality over quantity’: Why companies like L’Oreal are now aiming to use virtual events for recruiting|Kristina Monllos|November 9, 2020|Digiday
This sprinkler features 20 precision brass nozzles for gentle and even coverage of up to 3,600 square feet.
Sprinklers to keep lawns fresh|PopSci Commerce Team|October 30, 2020|Popular-Science
For the theremin’s 100th anniversary, Moog unveils the gorgeous Claravox Centennial — With a walnut cabinet, brass antennas and a plethora of wonderful knobs and dials, the Claravox looks like it emerged from a prewar recording studio.
Daily Crunch: Facebook Dating comes to Europe|Anthony Ha|October 22, 2020|TechCrunch

With a walnut cabinet, brass antennas and a plethora of wonderful knobs and dials, the Claravox looks like it emerged from a prewar recording studio, as indeed is the intention.
For the theremin’s 100th anniversary, Moog unveils the gorgeous Claravox Centennial|Devin Coldewey|October 22, 2020|TechCrunch
But that project ran into serious hurdles with the network brass.
Life After ‘Winter’s Bone’: Debra Granik on Finding J. Law and the Plight of the Female Director|Marlow Stern|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So maybe we should take a lesson from women with brass ovaries: comedy and feminism are longstanding bedfellows.
Comedians and Feminism Getting Laughs|Agunda Okeyo|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But even as he was receiving awards, the military brass was processing his discharge—they had found out he was transgender.
Yes to LGB, No to T: The Pentagon Still Has a Transgender Ban|Tim Mak|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Violation of gravitas is being taken ‘extremely seriously’ by army top brass, source says.
Hunt To Identify Pirouetting 'Bearskin' Guardsman Who Shamed Army|Tom Sykes|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A source said that while the video may be entertaining, the incident is being taken ‘extremely seriously’ by army top brass.
Hunt To Identify Pirouetting 'Bearskin' Guardsman Who Shamed Army|Tom Sykes|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were provided with sails and twelve oars each, and a falconet, or small brass cannon.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
"I wonder if 'twas a brass drum, such as has 'Eblubust Unum' printed on't," said Mrs. Slocum.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Picture frames, nicely moulded in brass, were made here in 1825, by a modeller named Maurice Garvey.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The air was heavy with the perfume of frankincense which smouldered in a brass vessel set upon a tray.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Latten, the term given to thin sheets of brass, was formerly applied to sheets of tinned iron.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for brass

brass

/ (brɑːs) /

noun

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 addedCompare bronze (def. 1)

an object, ornament, or utensil made of brass

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
(sometimes functioning as plural) instruments of this family forming a section in an orchestra
(as modifier)a brass ensemble

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

(functioning as plural) informal important or high-ranking officials, esp military officersthe top brass See also brass hat

Northern English dialect moneywhere there's muck, there's brass!

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

informal bold self-confidence; cheek; nervehe had the brass to ask for more time

slang a prostitute

(modifier) of, consisting of, or relating to brass or brass instrumentsa brass ornament; a brass band

Other words from brass

Related adjective: brazen

Word Origin for brass

Old English bræs; related to Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for brass

brass

[ brăs ]

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.

Cultural definitions for brass

brass

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with brass

brass

In addition to the idioms beginning with brass

brass hat
brass ring

also see:

bold as brass
double in brass
get down to brass tacks

brass

OTHER WORDS FOR brass

Origin of brass

OTHER WORDS FROM brass

Words nearby brass

Words related to brass

How to use brass in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for brass

Other words from brass

Word Origin for brass

Scientific definitions for brass

Cultural definitions for brass

Other Idioms and Phrases with brass