1.  brass(n = noun.substance) - an alloy of copper and zinc;
is a kind of copper-base alloy
has particulars: alpha-beta brass, muntz metal, yellow metal, alpha brass, bearing brass, cartridge brass, gilding metal, high brass, latten, low brass, ormolu, guinea gold, red brass

2.  brass(n = noun.artifact) brass instrument - a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece;
is a kind of wind, wind instrument
has parts: valve
has particulars: baritone, baritone horn, bass horn, sousaphone, tuba, bugle, clarion, cornet, horn, trump, trumpet, fluegelhorn, flugelhorn, french horn, horn, saxhorn, trombone
Derived form adjective brassy₁

3.  brass(n = noun.group) administration, establishment, governance, governing body, organisation, organization - the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something; "he claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the governance of an association is responsible to its members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment"
is a kind of body
is a part of authorities, government, regime
has parts: hierarchy, pecking order, power structure
has particulars: curia, top brass, executive, bench, judiciary, county council, government officials, officialdom, management

4.  brass(n = noun.attribute) boldness, cheek, face, nerve - impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty"
is a kind of aggressiveness
has particulars: audaciousness, audacity
Derived form adjective brassy₃

5.  brass(n = noun.artifact) - an ornament or utensil made of brass;
is a kind of decoration, ornament, ornamentation

6.  brass(n = noun.group) brass section - the section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments;
is a kind of section
has particulars: trumpet section
Derived form adjective brassy₁

7.  brass(n = noun.artifact) memorial tablet, plaque - a memorial made of brass;
is a kind of memorial, monument

1.  An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals. [1913 Webster]

2.  A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing. [1913 Webster]

3.  Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [1913 Webster]
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey." [1913 Webster]

4.  Impudence; a brazen face. [1913 Webster]

5.  Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass. [1913 Webster]
"The very scullion who cleans the brasses." [1913 Webster]

6.  A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc. [1913 Webster]

7.  Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass. [1913 Webster]
" The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation for copper or some kind of bronze." [1913 Webster]
" Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry." [1913 Webster]

brass, n. & adj.
--n.
1 a yellow alloy of copper and zinc.
2 a an ornament or other decorated piece of brass. b brass objects collectively.
3 Mus. brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra.
4 Brit. sl. money.
5 (in full horse-brass) a round flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught-horse.
6 (in full top brass) colloq. persons in authority or of high (esp. military) rank.
7 an inscribed or engraved memorial tablet of brass.
8 colloq. effrontery (then had the brass to demand money).
9 a brass block or die used for making a design on a book binding.
--adj. made of brass.

Idiom:
brass band a group of musicians playing brass instruments, sometimes also with percussion. brassed off sl. fed up. brass hat Brit. colloq. an officer of high rank, usu. one with gold braid on the cap. brass monkey coarse sl. used in various phrases to indicate extreme cold. brass-rubbing
1 the rubbing of heelball etc. over paper laid on an engraved brass to take an impression of its design.
2 the impression obtained by this. brass tacks sl. actual details; real business (get down to brass tacks). not a brass farthing colloq. no money or assets at all.

Etymology:
OE br{aelig}s, of unkn. orig.

N  mixture, admixture, commixture, commixtion, commixion, intermixture, alloyage, matrimony, junction, combination, miscegenation, impregnation, infusion, diffusion suffusion, transfusion, infiltration, seasoning, sprinkling, interlarding, interpolation, adulteration, sophistication, tinge, tincture, touch, dash, smack, sprinkling, spice, seasoning, infusion, soupcon, alloy, amalgam, brass, chowchow, pewter, magma, half-and-half, melange, tertium quid, miscellany, ambigu, medley, mess, hotchpot, pasticcio, patchwork, odds and ends, all sorts, jumble, salad, sauce, mash, omnium gatherum, gallimaufry, olla-podrida, olio, salmagundi, potpourri, Noah's ark, caldron texture, mingled yarn, mosaic, half-blood, half-caste, mulatto, terceron, quarteron, quinteron, quadroon, octoroon, griffo, zambo, cafuzo, Eurasian, fustee, fustie, griffe, ladino, marabou, mestee, mestizo, quintroon, sacatra zebrule, catalo, cross, hybrid, mongrel, mixed, implex, composite, half-and-half, linsey-woolsey, chowchow, hybrid, mongrel, heterogeneous, motley, miscellaneous, promiscuous, indiscriminate, miscible, among, amongst, amid, amidst, with, in the midst of, in the crowd.

N  insolence, haughtiness, arrogance, airs, overbearance, domineering, tyranny, impertinence, sauciness, flippancy, dicacity, petulance, procacity, bluster, swagger, swaggering, bounce, terrorism, assumption, presumption, beggar on horseback, usurpation, impudence, assurance, audacity, hardihood, front, face, brass, shamelessness, effrontery, hardened front, face of brass, assumption of infallibility, saucebox, insolent, haughty, arrogant, imperious, magisterial, dictatorial, arbitrary, high-handed, high and mighty, contumelious, supercilious, overbearing, intolerant, domineering, overweening, high-flown, flippant, pert, fresh, cavalier, saucy, forward, impertinent, malapert, precocious, assuming, would-be, bumptious, bluff, brazen, shameless, aweless, unblushlng, unabashed, brazen, boldfaced-, barefaced-, brazen-faced, dead to shame, lost to shame, impudent, audacious, presumptuous, free and easy, devil-may-care, rollicking, jaunty, janty, roistering, blustering, hectoring, swaggering, vaporing, thrasonic, fire eating, full of sound and fury, with a high hand, ex cathedra, one's bark being worse than his bite, beggars mounted run their horse to death, quid times? Caesarem vehis, wagahai wa (expressing superiority).

admiralty brass, alpha brass, alpha-beta brass, bearing brass, brass band, brass buttons, brass family, brass hat, brass instrument, brass knuckles, brass knucks, brass monkey, brass ring, brass section, cartridge brass, high brass, high-strength brass, low brass, naval brass, red brass, top brass