BRASS

brass, brass instrument

(noun) a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece

brass, memorial tablet, plaque

(noun) a memorial made of brass

brass

(noun) an ornament or utensil made of brass

boldness, nerve, brass, face, cheek

(noun) impudent aggressiveness; “I couldn’t believe her boldness”; “he had the effrontery to question my honesty”

administration, governance, governing body, establishment, brass, organization, organisation

(noun) the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something; “he claims that the present administration is corrupt”; “the governance of an association is responsible to its members”; “he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment”

brass

(noun) an alloy of copper and zinc

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Noun

brass (usually uncountable, plural brasses)

(uncountable) A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.

A memorial or sepulchral tablet usually made of brass or latten

Fittings, utensils, or other items made of brass

(music) A class of wind instruments, usually made of metal (such as brass), that use vibrations of the player's lips to produce sound; the section of an orchestra that features such instruments

Spent shell casings (usually made of brass); the part of the cartridge left over after bullets have been fired.

(uncountable) The colour of brass.

(military, uncountable, used as a singular or plural noun, metonym) High-ranking officers.

(uncountable, informal) A brave or foolhardy attitude; impudence.

(slang, dated) Money.

Inferior composition.

Adjective

brass (comparative more brass, superlative most brass)

Made of brass, of or pertaining to brass.

Of the colour of brass.

(informal) Impertinent, bold: brazen.

(slang) Bad, annoying; as wordplay applied especially to brass instruments.

• Philippine Magazine, volume 6, page 27

Of inferior composition.

Verb

brass (third-person singular simple present brasses, present participle brassing, simple past and past participle brassed)

(transitive) To coat with brass.

Etymology 2

By ellipsis from "brass nail," in turn from "nail[ing]" (fig.) and "brass blonde" (see "brazen").

Noun

brass (usually uncountable, plural brasses)

(uncountable, slang) Brass in pocket; money.

(countable, slang) A brass nail; a prostitute.

Adjective

brass

(slang) Brass monkey; cold.

Source: Wiktionary

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Brass, n.; pl. Brasses. Etym: [OE. bras, bres, AS. bræs; akin to Icel. bras cement, solder, brasa to harden by fire, and to E. braze, brazen. Cf. 1st & 2d Braze.]

1. An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.

2. (Mach.)

Definition: A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing.

3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [Obs.] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey. Matt. x. 9.

4. Impudence; a brazen face. [Colloq.]

5. pl.

Definition: Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass. The very scullion who cleans the brasses. Hopkinson.

6. A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.

7. pl. (Mining)

Definition: Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.

Note: The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation for copper or some kind of bronze.

Note: Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry. Brass band (Mus.), a band of musicians who play upon wind instruments made of brass, as trumpets, cornets, etc.

– Brass foil, Brass leaf, brass made into very thin sheets; -- called also Dutch gold.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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