bran|dish /bræ nd I ʃ/ (brandishes , brandishing , brandished ) VERB If you brandish something, especially a weapon, you hold it in a threatening way. □ [V n] He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife.
bra nd lea d|er (brand leaders ) N‑COUNT The brand leader of a particular product is the brand of it that most people choose to buy. [BUSINESS ] □ In office supplies, we're the brand leader.
bra nd name (brand names ) N‑COUNT The brand name of a product is the name the manufacturer gives it and under which it is sold. [BUSINESS ] □ Its 270 stores sell brand names and designer labels at up to 60% less.
bra nd-ne w ADJ A brand-new object is completely new. □ Yesterday he went off to buy himself a brand-new car.
bran|dy /bræ ndi/ (brandies ) N‑VAR Brandy is a strong alcoholic drink. It is often drunk after a meal. ● N‑COUNT A brandy is a glass of brandy. □ After a couple of brandies, Michael started telling me his life story.
bra n|dy snap (brandy snaps ) N‑COUNT Brandy snaps are very thin crisp biscuits in the shape of hollow cylinders. They are flavoured with ginger and are often filled with cream.
brash /bræ ʃ/ (brasher , brashest ) ADJ If you describe someone or their behaviour as brash , you disapprove of them because you think that they are too confident and aggressive. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ On stage she seems hard, brash and uncompromising. ● brash|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ I brashly announced to the group that NATO needed to be turned around. ● brash|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ He was a typical showman with a brashness bordering on arrogance.
brass /brɑː s, bræ s/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Brass is a yellow-coloured metal made from copper and zinc. It is used especially for making ornaments and musical instruments. □ The instrument is beautifully made in brass.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Brass instruments are musical instruments such as trumpets and horns that you play by blowing into them.
3 N‑SING The brass is the section of an orchestra which consists of brass wind instruments such as trumpets and horns.
4 PHRASE If you get down to brass tacks , you discuss the basic, most important facts of a situation. □ Let's take a quick look round and then we can get down to brass tacks.
bra ss ba nd (brass bands ) N‑COUNT A brass band is a band that is made up of brass and percussion instruments.
bras|se|rie /bræ səri, [AM ] -riː / (brasseries ) N‑COUNT A brasserie is a small and usually cheap restaurant or bar.
bras|si|ca /bræ s I kə/ (brassicas ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] Brassicas are vegetables such as cabbages, broccoli and turnips.
bras|siere /bræ ziə r , [AM ] brəz I r/ (brassieres ) N‑COUNT A brassiere is the same as a bra . [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bra ss rub|bing (brass rubbings ) N‑COUNT A brass rubbing is a picture made by placing a piece of paper over a brass plate that has writing or a picture on it, and rubbing it with a wax crayon.
brassy /brɑː si, bræ si/ (brassier , brassiest )
1 ADJ Brassy music is bold, harsh, and loud. □ Musicians blast their brassy jazz from street corners.
2 ADJ If you describe a woman's appearance or her behaviour as brassy , you think that she does not have good taste, and that she dresses or behaves in a way that is too loud or vulgar. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …Alec and his brassy blonde wife.
3 ADJ Something that is brassy has a yellow metallic colour and sometimes looks cheap. □ …a woman with big brassy ear-rings.
brat /bræ t/ (brats ) N‑COUNT If you call someone, especially a child, a brat , you mean that he or she behaves badly or annoys you. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He's a spoilt brat.
bra t pack (brat packs ) N‑COUNT A brat pack is a group of young people, especially actors or writers, who are popular or successful at the moment. [JOURNALISM ] □ …the Hollywood Brat Pack.
bra|va|do /brəvɑː doʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Bravado is an appearance of courage or confidence that someone shows in order to impress other people. □ 'You won't get away with this,' he said with unexpected bravado.
brave ◆◇◇ /bre I v/ (braver , bravest , braves , braving , braved )
1 ADJ Someone who is brave is willing to do things which are dangerous, and does not show fear in difficult or dangerous situations. □ He was not brave enough to report the loss of the documents. □ …those brave people who dared to challenge the Stalinist regimes. ● brave|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ Mr Kim bravely stood up to authority.
2 VERB If you brave unpleasant or dangerous conditions, you deliberately expose yourself to them, usually in order to achieve something. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] Thousands have braved icy rain to demonstrate their support.
3 PHRASE If someone is putting on a brave face or is putting a brave face on a difficult situation, they are pretending that they are happy or satisfied when they are not. □ He felt disappointed but he tried to put on a brave face.
bra ve new wo rld N‑SING If someone refers to a brave new world , they are talking about a situation or system that has recently been created and that people think will be successful and fair. □ [+ of ] …the brave new world of internet banking.
brav|ery /bre I vəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Bravery is brave behaviour or the quality of being brave. □ He deserves the highest praise for his bravery.
bra|vo /brɑː voʊ / EXCLAM Some people say ' bravo ' to express appreciation when someone has done something well. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ 'Bravo, Rena! You're right,' the students said.