Words / B2

BRAHS/brɑːs/

Brass is a yellow alloy of copper and zinc (usually uncountable): brass fittings; a brass plaque. As a group, wind instruments made from it: the brass section. Bronze is copper plus tin; copper is the element. Give the brass composition in the alloy table. Mix-up: brass vs brace (this batch); grass; do not write brass for gold or for a named steel part.

Meaning

A yellow alloy of copper and zinc (usually uncountable); also wind instruments made from it.

Examples

• “Give the brass composition in the alloy table; a brass section still needs the named piece.”
• “Give the brass composition in the alloy table, then the % zinc if given.”
• “A brass section featured in the score, which is the music sense — still name the piece.”

Good to know

brass fittings / plaque; the brass section. Contrast: bronze / copper / steel. Trap: brace / grass / gold. DT, chemistry, and music. Copper–zinc alloy, or those instruments — quote % or the piece.

Near in meaning

copper-zinc alloy, bronze (contrast), horn section

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