brass
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
brasses
plural
brasses
Britannica Dictionary definition of BRASS
1
[noncount]
:
a yellow metal that is made by combining copper and zinc
— often used before another noun
-
a candlestick made of brass
-
a brass candlestick
2
:
musical instruments (such as trumpets, trombones, and tubas) that are made of brass
— often used before another noun
—
see also brass band
[noncount]
-
The whole orchestra—the strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass—began to play.
[plural]
-
The brasses began to play.
-
He's one of the best brass players in the orchestra.
-
a brass instrument
-
the orchestra's brass section [=the group of musicians in an orchestra who play brass instruments]
3
[noncount]
:
bright metal objects made of brass
-
polishing the brass and the silver
4
[noncount]
chiefly US, informal
:
the people in the highest positions in an organization (such as the military or a business)
— often used with the
-
Navy brass [=top brass] met earlier today.
-
The brass met earlier today.
◊ Brass is used with both plural and singular verbs in this sense.
-
The company brass have/has decided that no action is necessary at this time.
(as) bold as brass
get down to brass tacks
informal
:
to start to discuss or consider the most important details or facts about something
-
We finally got down to brass tacks and decided to work out a schedule for the project.
