[bras, brahs] 
| 1. | any of various metal alloys consisting mainly of copper and zinc. |
| 2. | a utensil, ornament, or other article made of such an alloy. |
| 3. | Music.
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| 4. | metallic yellow; lemon, amber, or reddish yellow. |
| 5. | Informal.
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| 6. | Informal. excessive self-assurance; impudence; effrontery. |
| 7. | Machinery. a replaceable semicylindrical shell, usually of bronze, used with another such to line a bearing; a half bushing. |
| 8. | British. a memorial tablet or plaque, often incised with an effigy, coat of arms, or the like. |
| 9. | Furniture. any piece of ornamental or functional hardware, as a drawer pull, made of brass. |
| 10. | British Slang. money. |
| 11. | of, made of, or pertaining to brass. |
| 12. | composed for or using musical instruments made of brass. |
| 13. | having the color brass. |
| brass (brās) n.
[Middle English bras, from Old English bræs.] brass adj. |
Musical instruments traditionally made of brass and played by blowing directly into a small, cup-shaped mouthpiece. They include the French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
brass
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| brass (brās) Pronunciation Key
A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. It sometimes includes small amounts of other metals. Brass is strong, ductile, and resistant to many forms of corrosion. |
Brass
which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture is properly copper (Deut. 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judg. 16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armour (1 Sam. 17:5, 6), for musical instruments (1 Chr. 15:19; 1 Cor. 13:1), and for money (Matt. 10:9). It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa. 48:4; Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18), and of strength (Ps. 107:16; Micah 4:13). The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Dan. 2:39). The "mountains of brass" Zechariah (6:1) speaks of have been supposed to represent the immutable decrees of God. The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God (Num. 21:4-9), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen by all the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that were sent to them as a punishment for their murmurings against God and against Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews into Canaan, and preserved by them till the time of Hezekiah, who caused it to be at length destroyed because it began to be viewed by the people with superstitious reverence (2 Kings 18:4). (See NEHUSHTAN.) The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14, 15. (See SERPENT.)
brass
In addition to the idioms beginning with brass, also see bold as brass; double in brass; get down to brass tacks.
