/brɑ:s; [US] brs; bræs/
n
1 [U] bright yellow metal made by mixing copper and zinc 黄铜
*[attrib 作定语] brass doorknobs, buttons 黄铜的门把手、钮扣
* a brass foundry 黄铜铸造厂.
2 (a) [U] objects made of brass, eg candlesticks, ornaments, etc 黄铜制品（如烛台、饰物等）
*do/clean/polish the brass 处理[擦净/擦亮]黄铜器.
(b) [C] brass ornament worn by a horse 马戴的黄铜饰物.
3 the brass [Gp] (group of people in an orchestra who play) wind instruments made of brass （乐队中的）铜管乐器（组）
*The brass is/are too loud. 铜管乐的声音过大. =>illus at App
1 见附录1之插图, page x.4 [C] (esp Brit) brass memorial tablet fixed to the floor or wall of a church （教堂的地上或墙上的）黄铜纪念牌.
5 [U] (Brit sl 俚) money 钱
*He's got plenty of brass. 他很有钱.
6 [U] (infml 口) impudence; cheek 厚颜无耻; 厚脸皮
*He had the brass to ask his boss for a 20% pay rise. 他厚着脸皮要求老板给他增加20%的工资.
7 (idm 习语) bold as brass => bold. get down to brass `tacks (infml 口) start to consider the basic facts or practical details of sth 开始考虑某事物的基本事实 或具体细节. top brass => top1.

n

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1【metal】
2【music】
3【decorations】
4 get down to brass tacks
5【people with top jobs】
6 it's brass monkeys/brass monkey weather
7【money】

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[Language: Old English;Origin: brAs]
【METAL】[U]
a very hard bright yellow metal that is a mixture of copper and zinc
　an old brass bedstead
【MUSIC】
a)[U]
musical instruments that are made of metal, such as the trumpet and the trombone
　brass instruments
→percussion, stringed instrument, wind instrument, woodwind
b) the brass (section)
the people in an orchestra or band who play musical instruments that are made of metal
【DECORATIONS】 [C usually plural]
an object made of brass, usually with a design cut into it, or several brass objects
get down to brass tacksinformal
to start talking about the most important facts or details of something
【PEOPLE WITH TOP JOBS】
the brass
AmE informal people who hold the most important positions
British Equivalent: top brass
it's brass monkeys/brass monkey weather
BrE spoken informal used to say that it is very cold
【MONEY】[U]
BrE old-fashioned informal money
→as bold as brassatbold