plural brasses
1
: a yellow metal that is made by combining copper and zinc
a candlestick made of brass
—often used before another nouna brass candlestick
2
: musical instruments (such as trumpets, trombones, and tubas) that are made of brass
The whole orchestra—the strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass—began to play.
The brasses began to play.
—often used before another nounHe'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
: bright metal objects made of brass
polishing the brass and the silver
4
chiefly US, informal
: the people in the highest positions in an organization (such as the military or a business)
Navy brass [=top brass] met earlier today.
—often used with theThe brass met earlier today.
Note: Brass is used with both plural and singular verbs in this sense.
Cite this Entry
“Brass.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/brass. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
