brief

[ breef ]

/ brif /

See synonyms for: brief / briefed / briefer / briefing on Thesaurus.com

adjective, brief·er, brief·est.

lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.

using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.

abrupt or curt.

scanty: a brief bathing suit.

noun

a short and concise statement or written item.

an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy: a debater's brief.

Law.

a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
a written argument submitted to a court.
(in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.

an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.

briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.

a briefing.

Roman Catholic Church. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope's signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.

British Theater. a free ticket; pass.

Obsolete. a letter.

verb (used with object)

to make an abstract or summary of.

to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.

Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.

SYNONYMS FOR brief

1 short-lived, fleeting, transitory, ephemeral, transient.

2 terse, compact, pithy, condensed.

5 outline, précis, epitome, abstract.

14 summarize, outline.

See synonyms for brief on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for brief

hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.

in brief, in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.

Origin of brief

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bref, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin brevis “short”; see breve

synonym study for brief

1. See short. 5. See summary.

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

briefer, nounbriefness, nounun·brief, adjectiveun·brief·ly, adverb

un·brief·ness, nounun·briefed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for brief

Confusion,” as a NATO briefer explained Thursday, “is part and parcel of this Russian hybrid warfare strategy.
Is the U.S. Enabling Putin's Invasion?|Christopher Dickey|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His interview with Lady Ardingly had been briefer, but, he felt, more to the point.
Scarlet and Hyssop|E. F. Benson
After another and briefer rest upon the flat of his back, he decided to try a smoke.
Rayton: A Backwoods Mystery|Theodore Goodridge Roberts
Many of the most important sources are the briefer accounts printed in the Minnesota Historical Collections.
Old Fort Snelling|Marcus L. Hansen

Matthew presents an extended account occupying three chapters of the first Gospel; Luke gives a briefer synopsis.
Jesus the Christ|James Edward Talmage
Even this brief period of development would have been briefer, had not the law courts interposed many delays.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine -- Volume 55, No. 340, February, 1844|Various

British Dictionary definitions for brief

brief

/ (briːf) /

adjective

short in durationa brief holiday

short in length or extent; scantya brief bikini

abrupt in manner; brusquethe professor was brief with me this morning

terse or concise; containing few wordshe made a brief statement

noun

a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract

law a document containing all the facts and points of law of a case by which a solicitor instructs a barrister to represent a client

RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief

short for briefing

a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate

British slang a lawyer, esp a barrister

hold a brief for to argue for; champion

in brief in short; to sum up

verb (tr)

to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts

to make a summary or synopsis of

English law

to instruct (a barrister) by brief
to retain (a barrister) as counsel

(intr foll by against) to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etcSee also briefs

Derived forms of brief

briefly, adverbbriefness, noun

Word Origin for brief

C14: from Old French bref, from Latin brevis; related to Greek brakhus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with brief

brief

see hold no brief for; in brief.

MEANINGS

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brief

adjective, brief·er, brief·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR brief

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Idioms for brief

Origin of brief

synonym study for brief

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

Example sentences from the Web for brief

British Dictionary definitions for brief

adjective

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of brief

Word Origin for brief

Idioms and Phrases with brief

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

brief

adjective, brief·er, brief·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR brief

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for brief

Origin of brief

synonym study for brief

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

Words related to brief

Example sentences from the Web for brief

British Dictionary definitions for brief

adjective

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of brief

Word Origin for brief

Idioms and Phrases with brief