Answer:
The first line of "The New Colossus" reads: "Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame."
In this context, the word "brazen" suggests that the "giant" being referred to is bold, loud, and perhaps even arrogant. It is likely that the poet is referencing the famous statue of Helios, the Greek god of the sun, that stood at the harbor of Rhodes. This statue was considered a masterpiece of ancient art, but it was also imposing and ostentatious, with its gleaming metal surfaces reflecting the sunlight.
By contrasting the "brazen giant" of Greek fame with the "new colossus" that the poem goes on to describe, the poet is suggesting that the new statue is not meant to be a symbol of power and conquest, but rather of welcome and freedom. The word "brazen" helps to set up this contrast by evoking a sense of grandiosity and pride that is absent from the more humble and welcoming tone of the rest of the poem.