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Definitions for Brief

[1] lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.
[2] using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.
[3] abrupt or curt.
[4] scanty: a brief bathing suit.
[5] a short and concise statement or written item.
[6] 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.
[7] 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.
[8] an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.
[9] briefs, (used with a plural verb ) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.
[10] a briefing.
[11] 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.
[12] British Theater . a free ticket; pass.
[13] Obsolete . a letter.
[14] to make an abstract or summary of.
[15] to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.
[16] Law . to retain as advocate in a suit.
[17] hold a brief for , to support or defend by argument; endorse.
[18] in brief , in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.
[19] short in duration a brief holiday
[20] short in length or extent; scanty a brief bikini
[21] abrupt in manner; brusque the professor was brief with me this morning
[22] terse or concise; containing few words he made a brief statement
[23] a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract
[24] 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
[25] RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief
[26] short for briefing
[27] a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate
[28] British slang a lawyer, esp a barrister
[29] hold a brief for to argue for; champion
[30] in brief in short; to sum up
[31] to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts
[32] to make a summary or synopsis of
[33] English law to instruct (a barrister) by brief to retain (a barrister) as counsel
[34] (intr foll by against ) to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etc See also briefs

Words related to Brief

pithy, concise, terse, abrupt, succinct, blunt, temporary, short-lived, quick, fleeting, swift, momentary, prepare, explain, apprise, update, inform, instruct, advise, limited

Words nearby Brief

bridle path, bridle suture, bridlewise, bridoon, brie, brief, briefcase, briefing, briefless, briefly, briefs

Origin of Brief

1250–1300; Middle English bref < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin brevis short; see breve

Other words from Brief

brief·er , noun
brief·ness , noun
un·brief , adjective
un·brief·ly , adverb
un·brief·ness , noun
un·briefed , adjective

Word origin for Brief

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

Synonyms for Brief

abrupt, blunt, concise, pithy, succinct, terse, bluff, crisp, limited, little, sharp, small, boiled down, breviloquent, brusque, compendiary, compendious, curt, hasty, laconic, short and sweet, skimpy, snippy, surly, to the point