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brief definition

brief (brēf)

adjective

  1. of short duration or extent
  2. short in length
  3. using relatively few words; concise
  4. curt or abrupt

Etymology: ME < OFr bref < L brevis < IE base *mreĝhu-, short > merry, Gr brachys

noun

  1. a summary or abstract
  2. a concise statement of the main points of a law case, usually filed by counsel for the information of the court
  3. Chiefly Brit. a set of instructions for the participants in some project, investigation, etc., indicating the scope of their responsibilities: often used figuratively
  4. R.C.Ch. a papal letter less formal than a bull
    1. closefitting, legless undershorts
    2. women's panties that cover the body from the waist to the leg

Etymology: ME bref < OFr < LL breve < L, neut. of brevis: see brief

transitive verb

  1. to make a summary of
  2. to supply with all the pertinent instructions or information to brief pilots before a flight
  3. Brit.
    1. to furnish with a legal brief
    2. to hire as counsel

Related Forms:

brief Idioms

hold a brief for

to argue for or be in favor of

in brief

in short; in a few words

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms brief idiom

law brief definition - legal

brief Synonyms

brief

modif.

  1. Short in time

    short, fleeting, concise; see fleeting, short 2.

  2. Short in space

    skimpy, scanty, slight, small; see short 1.

  3. Abrupt

    hasty, curt, brusque; see abrupt 2. See syn. study at short.



brief

v.

  1. To summarize

    epitomize, recapitulate, abridge; see decrease 2, summarize.

  2. To inform

    prime, advise, instruct; see notify 1, prepare 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

brief Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • watch: Irons held a watching brief in 3rd happy to keep his nearest rival Humphries behind him.

Adjective modifier

  • detailed: At Acumen Europa, the interim management process starts once we have taken a detailed brief from a client.

Modifies a noun

  • description: Here is a brief description of some of the websites we have designed - we hope you will enjoy them.

Noun used with modifier

  • amicus: The trio of retired officers recently filed a Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of 16 detainees held for almost two years.
brief usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

brief quotes

I hold no brief for private enterprise.But I have unshakeable faith in individual enterprise.

-Burton, C(harles) L(uther)

  Architects cannot work in a vacuum; unlike other artists theyare totally dependent on a site, a brief and finance.

-Rogers, Richard George Rogers, Baron

The process of learning is accompanied by alternations of pain and brief quickenings that resemble pain.

-Wilder,Thornton Niven

brief quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"brief." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/brief>

APA Style

brief. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/brief

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