noun B1 Intermediate Common

brass

brahs

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Brass (noun) means a yellowish metal alloy made from copper and zinc, used for fittings, instruments, and ornaments. Example: “The old lamp was made of brass and needed a good polish.”

noun

A yellowish metal alloy made from copper and zinc, used for fittings, instruments, and ornaments.

"The old lamp was made of brass and needed a good polish."

"The door handles were made of polished brass."

"Brass tarnishes over time unless it's regularly cleaned."

Wind instruments made of metal, such as trumpets and trombones, or the section of a band playing them.

"She plays trumpet in the brass section of the school orchestra."

"The brass at the front of the parade sounded wonderful."

"The brass came in loudly during the final chorus."

Informal: senior officers or high-ranking officials.

"Nobody dared to complain in front of the brass."

"The brass are visiting the factory floor on Monday morning."

"The top brass wanted the project finished by Friday."

How to use brass

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA copper-zinc metal, the horn section of a band, or (informally) senior bosses.

Common pairings

brass band brass instrument top brass polished brass

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: brasses
Third person singular: brasses
Past tense: brassed
Comparative: more brass
Superlative: most brass

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Can you complete this real example?

The old lamp was made of _____ and needed a good polish.

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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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higher-ups bigwigs top management leadership boldness administration face cheek organisation establishment nerve governance

Related words

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Rhymes for brass

ass mass pass bass dass lass sass Cass Kass grass class glass

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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.

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