brass

1 of 2

noun

1
: an alloy consisting essentially of copper and zinc in variable proportions
2
a
: the brass instruments of an orchestra or band
often used in plural
b
: a usually brass memorial tablet
c
: bright metal fittings, utensils, or ornaments
d
: empty cartridge shells
3
: brazen self-assurance : gall
4
singular or plural in construction
a
: high-ranking members of the military
b
: persons in high positions (as in a business or the government)

brass

2 of 2

adjective

1
: made of brass
a brass cannon
see also brass ring, brass tacks
2
: made up of or composed for brass musical instruments
the band's brass section
see also brass band

Examples of brass in a Sentence

Noun a candlestick made of brass The whole orchestra—the strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass—began to play. The brasses began to play. polishing the brass and the silver
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The kitchen is fitted with top-grade appliances and brass fixtures. Mark David, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Saadat, who is of Persian heritage, has a dedicated brass mortar and pestle to finely grind saffron and a Japanese suribachi for crushing cardamom. Naz Deravian, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 By the death of Tybalt and the lovers’ tomb-side reunion, Shani had worked the suite into an appropriately torrid affair, the orchestra delivering thick gales of strings and blasts of brass of sometimes shocking force as the tragedy plodded toward disaster. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Decorative metal options like copper or brass are pricier and require regular polishing to prevent effects from oxidation. Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 But that all changed on June 23, when Prigozhin led an armed insurrection against Putin after railing against the country’s military brass over their handling of the Ukraine war. Sophie Tanno, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 The lively brass sounds of New Orleans filled the air as revelers celebrated Mardi Gras on a chilly Fat Tuesday evening in downtown Oakland. Jane Tyska, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 The warm mahogany tones of the stringed instruments, that classic brass glow, made for a really nice color palette. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 The process produces soot, which accumulates on the underside of the pan; the superfine powder is then collected and stored as kohl in ornate brass pots. Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bras, from Old English bræs; akin to Middle Low German bras metal

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brass was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near brass

Cite this Entry

“Brass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brass. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brass

noun
1
: an alloy containing copper and zinc
2
: the reddish yellow color of brass
3
: the brass instruments of a band or orchestra
often used in plural
4
: bright metal ornaments, fixtures, or utensils
5
: bold self-assurance : gall
6
: high-ranking officers especially in the armed forces
brass adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on brass

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