an alloy of copper and zinc containing more than 50 per cent of copper. Alpha brass (containing less than 35 per cent of zinc) is used for most engineering materials requiring forging, pressing, etc. Alpha-beta brass (35–45 per cent zinc) is used for hot working and extrusion. Beta brass (45–50 per cent zinc) is used for castings. Small amounts of other metals, such as lead or tin, may be added
Compare bronze (sense 1)
2.
an object, ornament, or utensil made of brass
3.
a.
the large family of wind instruments including the trumpet, trombone, French horn, etc, each consisting of a brass tube blown directly by means of a cup- or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
b. (sometimes functioning as plural)
instruments of this family forming a section in an orchestra
c.
(as modifier)
a brass ensemble
4.
a renewable sleeve or bored semicylindrical shell made of brass or bronze, used as a liner for a bearing
5. (functioning as plural) informal
important or high-ranking officials, esp military officers
the top brass
See also brass hat
6. Northern England dialect
money
where there's muck, there's brass!
7. British
an engraved brass memorial tablet or plaque, set in the wall or floor of a church
8. informal
bold self-confidence; cheek; nerve
he had the brass to ask for more time
9. slang
a prostitute
10. (modifier)
of, consisting of, or relating to brass or brass instruments
a brass ornament
a brass band
▶ Related adjective: brazen
Word origin
Old English bræs; related to Old Frisian bres copper, Middle Low German bras metal
Examples of 'brass plate' in a sentence
brass plate
But changing the name on the brass plate will do little.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Inscribed on a brass plate, of course.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is now a blunt choice between finding insurance on the open market or unscrewing the brass plate.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Initially, at least, it will be more a forum for debate than a physical department with a brass plate on the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Then came the companies registered in countries that practised total banking secrecy, consisting of no more than a brass plate on the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It has a small brass plate with its name at the offices of a company which specialisesin trust services.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can draw the lines wherever you like, put a new brass plate on the door and create new agencies with new names.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They can strike people off and prevent anyone putting up a brass plate with the title 'psychotherapist'.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
No one stands around admiring the shade of your mahogany casket or the shine on the brass plate.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That did not mean that the debtor should simply be locatable or identifiable by a brass plate on a door.