brief
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.
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.
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.
Idioms about 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
1synonym study For brief
Other words for brief
Other words from brief
- briefer, noun
- briefness, noun
- un·brief, adjective
- un·brief·ly, adverb
- un·brief·ness, noun
- un·briefed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use brief in a sentence
Confusion,” as a NATO briefer explained Thursday, “is part and parcel of this Russian hybrid warfare strategy.
He was George W. Bush's official briefer on the day of the 9-11 attacks.
In practice as distinct from theory, Isocrates probably had an influence more direct and intense, but briefer.
Rhetoric and Poetry in the Renaissance | Donald Lemen ClarkThe late Duke of Guise had eclipsed his glory, and in a much briefer career had exhibited much more striking tactical skill.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots | Henry BairdThis briefer story cannot but be a repetition of the facts and a synopsis of the fuller statement of them.
Was General Thomas Slow at Nashville? | Henry V. Boynton
The letters of her lover were still long and frequent; hers were briefer and more subdued.
Night and Morning, Complete | Edward Bulwer-LyttonWe will, struggling to be briefer, speak in her person; and indicate withal where the very words are hers, and where ours.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIII. (of XXI.) | Thomas Carlyle
British Dictionary definitions for brief
/ (briːf) /
short in duration: a brief holiday
short in length or extent; scanty: a brief bikini
abrupt in manner; brusque: the professor was brief with me this morning
terse or concise; containing few words: he made a brief statement
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
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, etc: See also briefs
Origin of brief
1Derived forms of brief
- briefly, adverb
- briefness, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with brief
see hold no brief for; in brief.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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