"brasses" in the noun sense
1. brass
an alloy of copper and zinc
2. brass, 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
3. administration, governance, governing body, establishment, brass, organization, organisation
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"
4. boldness, nerve, brass, face, cheek
impudent aggressiveness
"I couldn't believe her boldness"
"he had the effrontery to question my honesty"
5. brass
an ornament or utensil made of brass
6. brass section, brass
the section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments
7. brass, memorial tablet, plaque
a memorial made of brass
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
View WordNet® License