brass

Universal Words 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 FRENCHHORNS, that form a band or section of an orchestra; the people who play them: music for piano, strings and brass comparePERCUSSION, STRINGS, WOODWIND, WINDINSTRUMENT ornament 3 [C] (BrE) a decorated piece of brass used as an ornament, 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: a memorial brass important people 5 [U+sing./pl.v.] (especially AmE) = TOPBRASS money 6 [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) money seealsoBRASSY IDIOMS brass monkeys