Brief Definition
brēf
briefed, briefest, briefing, briefs, briefer
adjective
briefest, briefer
Of short duration or extent.
Webster's New World
Short in length.
Webster's New World
Using relatively few words; concise.
Webster's New World
Curt or abrupt.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
briefs
A short, succinct statement.
American Heritage
A summary or abstract.
Webster's New World
A concise statement of the main points of a law case, usually filed by counsel for the information of the court.
Webster's New World
A set of instructions for the participants in some project, investigation, etc., indicating the scope of their responsibilities.
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A papal letter less formal than a bull.
Webster's New World
verb
briefed, briefing, briefs
To make a summary of.
Webster's New World
To supply with all the pertinent instructions or information.
To brief pilots before a flight.
Webster's New World
To summarize.
American Heritage
To furnish with a legal brief.
Webster's New World
To hire as counsel.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adverb
(obsolete, poetic) Briefly.
Wiktionary
(obsolete, poetic) Soon; quickly.
Wiktionary
idiom
in brief
- In short.
American Heritage
hold a brief for
- to argue for or be in favor of
Webster's New World
in brief
- in short; in a few words
Webster's New World
Origin of Brief
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Middle English bref from Old French from Latin brevis N., Middle English bref written communication from Old French from Medieval Latin breve from Latin neuter of brevis short mregh-u- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Old French brief, from Latin brevis (“short”). Compare French bref.
From Wiktionary
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