Brass is a yellow-coloured metal made from copper and zinc. It is used especially for making ornaments and musical instruments.
The instrument is beautifully made in brass.
2. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
Brass instruments are musical instruments such as trumpets and horns that you play by blowing into them.
3. singular noun
Thebrass is the section of an orchestra which consists of brass wind instruments such as trumpetsand horns.
He once again raised his baton and brought in the brass.
4. countable noun
Brasses are flat pieces of brass with writing or a picture cut into them, which are often found in churches.
5. See also brass rubbing
6. collective singular noun [also no determiner, oft with supp]
In the army or in other organizations, thebrass are the people in the highest positions.
[US, informal]
The brass are reluctant to fraternise with the enlisted men.
regional note: in BRIT, use top brass
7.
See to get down to brass tacks
More Synonyms of brass
brass in British English
(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 (sense 1)
2.
an object, ornament, or utensil made of brass
3.
a.
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
b. (sometimes functioning as plural)
instruments of this family forming a section in an orchestra
c.
(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. (functioning as plural) informal
important or high-ranking officials, esp military officers
the top brass
See also brass hat
6. Northern England dialect
money
where there's muck, there's brass!
7. British
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
▶ Related adjective: brazen
Word origin
Old English bræs; related to Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal
brass in American English
(bræs; brɑs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈbrasses
1.
a yellowish metal that is essentially an alloy of copper and zinc
2.
things made of brass, as fittings, ornaments, or implements
3. [often with pl. v.]
the brass instruments of an orchestra, band, etc., or the players of these instruments
4.
a brass memorial tablet
5. Informal
bold impudence; effrontery
6. US; [often with pl. v.]; Slang
a.
military officers of high rank
see also brass hat
b.
any high officials, executives, etc.
7. Machinery
the lining or bushing of a bearing
adjective
8.
made of or containing brass
9.
designating a wind instrument, as a horn, trombone, trumpet, or tuba, made of a coiled metal tube and having a usually cup-shaped mouthpiece
10.
composed of or for such an instrument or instruments
a brass choir
verb transitive
11.
to coat with brass
Word origin
ME bras < OE bræs, brass, bronze
More idioms containing
brass
get down to brass tacks
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
the brass ring
bold as brass
COBUILD Collocations
brass
military top brass
Examples of 'brass' in a sentence
brass
Brass and woodwind shriek from the outset.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You just need a brass neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rattle flooded the stage with extra strings, brass and woodwind.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Fund managers also claim they should have a relatively easy job adapting, thanks to a few new brass plaques and some juicy legal fees.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One committee member said:'The brass neck of this man is something else.
The Sun (2016)
Then it's back to base for mince pies and mulled wine, while a brass band plays.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I can't understand how she has the brass neck to hang on to a job at Southern.
The Sun (2016)
Winds and brass had a particularly good night.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The iron seats are available with a copper or brass finish.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This lot plays brass instruments and would keel over in a light breeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We just need to get out there and be as bold as brass.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Mine were unashamedly bright orange with huge brass fly buttons.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She really was able to turn muck into brass.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Each comes with an engraved brass plaque.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Four other military top brass live in their own homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This track has a fantastic brass section and a wonderful bass line.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There was a nativity play and a brass band played.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This stuff would be career suicide if the leader of any other political party had the brass neck to utter it.
The Sun (2014)
The transparency of sound from gut strings means the woodwind and brass soloists emerge as if naturally from the orchestral texture.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Brass and wind bands also existed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Additional brass and string players had been invited, underlining that this was a special show.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And it's great on brass and copper.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One team stepped into the unknown, full of hope and bold as brass in their approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yet the army 's top brass has also been unwilling to unleash its firepower on civilians in the centre of the capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The gadgets look like brass instruments but require no skill to'play '.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Pieces in bronze and brass from the 16th to 18th centuries are more affordable thansilver and can be equally striking.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
At times the orchestra 's bumptious brass swallowed the performers whole, while vocal tone flattened into cardboard if they sang on the move.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
brass
alloy, alloys, metal
In other languages
brass
British English: brass /brɑːs/ NOUN
Brass is a yellow metal made from copper and zinc.
...shining brass buttons.
American English: brass
Arabic: نُحاس أَصْفَر
Brazilian Portuguese: latão
Chinese: 黄铜
Croatian: mjed
Czech: mosaz
Danish: messing
Dutch: koper
European Spanish: latón
Finnish: messinki
French: laiton
German: Messing
Greek: μπρούντζος
Italian: ottone
Japanese: 真鍮
Korean: 황동
Norwegian: messing
Polish: mosiądz
European Portuguese: latão
Romanian: alamă
Russian: латунь
Latin American Spanish: latón
Swedish: mässing
Thai: ทองเหลือง
Turkish: pirinç metal
Ukrainian: латунь
Vietnamese: đồng thau
All related terms of 'brass'
brass hat
a top-ranking official , esp a military officer
military top brass
In the army or in other organizations, the top brass are the people in the highest positions.
alpha brass
a type of brass that contains less than 35 per cent zinc
brass band
A brass band is a band that is made up of brass and percussion instruments .
brass neck
effrontery ; nerve
brass plate
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
brass ring
great success or a highly valued prize; also , an opportunity for this
brass tacks
basic realities ; hard facts (esp in the phrase get down to brass tacks )
high brass
brass containing 65 per cent copper and 35 per cent zinc , used for most applications
horse brass
a decorative brass ornament , usually circular , originally attached to a horse's harness
brass foundry
a foundry that makes things from brass
brass monkey
→ it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
brass plaque
a brass plate screwed to a wall or other structure and engraved with a name or other information, esp to commemorate an important event
brass rubbing
A brass rubbing is a picture made by placing a piece of paper over a brass plate that has writing or a picture on it, and rubbing it with a wax crayon .
brass farthing
something of little or no value
brass knuckles
linked metal rings or a metal bar with holes for the fingers , worn for rough fighting
bold as brass
not ashamed or embarrassed , although your behaviour is shocking or annoying to other people
brass instrument
a musical wind instrument of brass or other metal with a cup-shaped mouthpiece , as the trombone , tuba , French horn , trumpet , or cornet
the brass ring
success or a big reward or profit
alpha-beta brass
a type of brass that contains 35–45 per cent zinc
double in brass
to do or be capable of doing something additional to one's specialty
get down to brass tacks
to begin to discuss the basic , most important aspects of a situation
British Standard brass thread
a Whitworth screw thread having 26 threads per inch , used for thin-walled tubing and designated by the diameter of the tubing
to get down to brass tacks
If you get down to brass tacks , you discuss the basic, most important facts of a situation.
to go for the brass ring
to try to succeed in an area where there is a lot of competition
it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
the weather is freezing cold
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
extremely cold
and the same to you with knobs on
the same to you but even more so
Chinese translation of 'brass'
brass
(brɑːs)
n(u)
(= metal) 铜(銅) (tóng)
the brass (section) (Mus) 铜(銅)管乐(樂)器 (tóngguǎn yuèqì)
(noun)
Definition
bold self-confidence
(informal)
You have got some brass, mate!
Synonyms
nerve (informal)
He had the nerve to ask me to prove who I was.
face (informal)
I haven't the face to ask her for money.
front
neck (informal)
cheek
I'm amazed they have the cheek to ask in the first place.
gall (informal)
She had the gall to suggest that I might lend her the money.
presumption
He had the presumption to answer me back.
audacity
He had the audacity to look at his watch while I was talking.
rudeness
She is cross at his rudeness.
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal)
insolence
The most frequent reason for excluding a pupil was insolence.
impertinence
The impertinence of the boy is phenomenal!
impudence
One sister had the impudence to wear the other's clothes.
effrontery
He had the effrontery to turn up on my doorstep at 2 in the morning.
brass neck (British, informal)
sassiness (US, informal)
idiom
See top brass
related words
related adjectivebrazen
Additional synonyms
in the sense of audacity
He had the audacity to look at his watch while I was talking.
Synonyms
cheek (informal),
nerve (informal),
defiance,
gall (informal),
presumption,
rudeness,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impertinence,
neck (informal),
impudence,
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
shamelessness,
sassiness (informal),
forwardness,
pertness,
audaciousness,
disrespectfulness
in the sense of cheek
Definition
impudence, boldness, or lack of respect
I'm amazed they have the cheek to ask in the first place.
Synonyms
impudence,
face (informal),
front,
nerve (informal),
sauce (informal),
gall (informal),
disrespect,
audacity,
neck (informal),
lip (slang),
temerity,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impertinence,
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
brazenness,
sassiness (informal)
in the sense of effrontery
Definition
insolence or boldness
He had the effrontery to turn up on my doorstep at 2 in the morning.