1
: an alloy consisting essentially of copper and zinc in variable proportions
2
a
: the brass instruments of an orchestra or band
—often used in plural
b
: a usually brass memorial tablet
c
: bright metal fittings, utensils, or ornaments
d
: empty cartridge shells
3
: brazen self-assurance : gall
4
singular or plural in construction
a
: high-ranking members of the military
b
: persons in high positions (as in a business or the government)
1
: made of brass
a brass cannon
see also brass ring, brass tacks
2
: made up of or composed for brass musical instruments
the band's brass section
see also brass band
Examples of brass in a Sentence
Noun
a candlestick made of brass
The whole orchestra—the strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass—began to play.
The brasses began to play.
polishing the brass and the silver
Recent Examples on the Web
Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists found an iron knife with brass stripes dating back to the Roman Empire buried deep beneath the cellar floor of an outbuilding.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
That, in itself, wasn't too unusual, but the Navy brass panicked at this point.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2025
His route running and ability to stretch the field should sound like music to the ears of the Colts brass, so long as his medical records check out.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass
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Noun
The brass hardware gives it a hint of an edge to balance out the rustic wood, while the scalloped details on the doors adds some whimsy to the mix.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists found an iron knife with brass stripes dating back to the Roman Empire buried deep beneath the cellar floor of an outbuilding.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
That, in itself, wasn't too unusual, but the Navy brass panicked at this point.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2025
His route running and ability to stretch the field should sound like music to the ears of the Colts brass, so long as his medical records check out.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass
Cite this Entry
“Brass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brass. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brass
noun1
: an alloy containing copper and zinc
2
: the reddish yellow color of brass
3
: the brass instruments of a band or orchestra
—often used in plural
4
: bright metal ornaments, fixtures, or utensils
5
: bold self-assurance : gall
6
: high-ranking officers especially in the armed forces
brass
adjective
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