brass
Brass (noun) means a yellowish metal alloy made from copper and zinc, used for fittings, instruments, and ornaments. Example: “The door handles were made of polished brass.”
How to use brass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA copper-zinc metal, the horn section of a band, or (informally) senior bosses.
Word forms
more brass comparative, brassed past tense, brasses plural, brasses plural, brasses plural, brasses singular, most brass superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The door handles were made of polished _____.
Etymology
From Middle English bras, bres, from Old English bræs (“brass, bronze”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps representing a backformation from Proto-Germanic *brasnaz (“brazen”), from or related to *brasō (“fire, pyre”). Compare Old Norse and Icelandic bras (“solder”), Icelandic brasa (“to harden in the fire”), Swedish brasa (“a small controlled fire”), Danish brase (“to fry”); French braser ("to solder"; > English braise) from the same Germanic root. Compare also Middle Dutch braspenninc ("a silver coin", literally, "silver-penny"; > Dutch braspenning), Old Frisian bress (“copper”), Middle Low German bras (“metal, ore”). In the military sense an ellipsis of the brass hats.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for brass
See all rhymes for brass →Frequently asked questions
What does “brass” mean?
The word “brass” means a yellowish metal alloy made from copper and zinc, used for fittings, instruments, and ornaments. In plain terms, a copper-zinc metal, the horn section of a band, or (informally) senior bosses.
How do you pronounce “brass”?
“Brass” is pronounced brahs (/bɹæs/ in IPA).
How do you use “brass” in a sentence?
Here is “brass” used in a sentence: “The door handles were made of polished brass.”
What part of speech is “brass”?
“Brass” is a noun.
Is “brass” a common word?
“Brass” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “brass” have?
“Brass” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a yellowish metal alloy made from copper and zinc, used for fittings, instruments, and ornaments.
What is the difference between brass and bronze?
Brass is a yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, while bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Brass is typically brighter and more yellow in colour and is widely used for fittings, musical instruments, and ornaments, whereas bronze looks browner and duller.
Which instruments count as brass instruments?
Brass refers to the metal wind instruments of a band or orchestra, such as trumpets and trombones, and also to the section of players who perform on them. French horns and tubas belong to the brass section as well.
Is brass a pure metal or an alloy?
Brass is not a pure metal or chemical element; it is an alloy made by combining copper and zinc. Its exact colour and hardness vary with the proportions of the two metals used.