brass Definition
- 1a yellow alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals
- 2a memorial tablet or inscribed plaque made of brass
- 3bold self-assurance; impudence
Using brass: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "brass" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The doorknob was made of brass.
Example
The band played a brass instrument.
Example
The brass plate on the door read 'Dr. Smith'.
Example
He had the brass to ask for a raise after only one month on the job.
brass Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for brass
- bronze
- copper-zinc alloy
- memorial tablet
- inscribed plaque
Phrases with brass
brass tacks
the essentials or basic facts of a situation
Example
Let's get down to brass tacks and figure out how much this project is going to cost.
brass monkey
a metal stand used to hold cannonballs on a ship
Example
It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
brass ring
a highly desirable opportunity or prize
Example
Winning the championship was the brass ring for the team.
Origins of brass
from Old English 'bræs', meaning 'brass, bronze'
Summary: brass in Brief
The term 'brass' [bras] refers to a yellow alloy of copper and zinc, as well as a memorial tablet or inscribed plaque made of brass. It can also mean bold self-assurance or impudence, as in 'He had the brass to ask for a raise after only one month on the job.' 'Brass' extends into phrases like 'brass tacks,' denoting the essentials of a situation, and 'brass ring,' meaning a highly desirable opportunity or prize.
