/ brɑːs; NAmE bræs/ noun
METAL
1.
[ U ] a bright yellow metal made by mixing copper and zinc ; objects made of brass :
solid brass fittings / door handles
a brass plate (= a sign outside a building giving the name and profession of the person who works there)
to clean / polish the brass
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
2.
[ U+sing./pl. v . ] the musical instruments made of metal, such as trumpets or French horns , that form a band or section of an orchestra ; the people who play them :
music for piano, strings and brass
—compare percussion , strings , woodwind , wind instrument
FOR A HORSE
3.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a decorated piece of brass used as a decorative object, especially a round flat piece attached to a horse's harness
IN CHURCH
4.
[ C ] ( especially BrE ) a flat piece of brass with words or a picture on it, fixed to the floor or wall of a church in memory of sb who has died
IMPORTANT PEOPLE
5.
[ U+sing./pl. v . ] ( especially NAmE ) = top brass
MONEY
6.
[ U ] ( old-fashioned , BrE , informal ) money
—see also brassy
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IDIOMS
- brass monkeys | brass monkey weather
- brass neck / nerve
- the brass ring
- (get down to) brass tacks
—more at bold , muck noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English bræs , of unknown origin.