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
As The Daily Mail points out: “the briefness of the Mavericks new ensembles could raise some eyebrows.”
The Dallas Mavericks' Cheerleaders Skimpy New Uniforms; Karl Lagerfeld's Interesting Word Choice | The Fashion Beast Team | November 9, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was written practically during the battle, so you must excuse its apparent briefness.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie | George Brenton LaurieFor his leisure, you are commanded to the greater briefness, as his place is of greater discharges and cares.
Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter | Ben JonsonThis gives one a realizing sense of the frailness of a Mississippi boat and the briefness of its life.
Life On The Mississippi, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)It was nervous, tingling work, for as surely as I sensed his intention of briefness, just as surely had he sensed mine.
The Jacket (The Star-Rover) | Jack London
The men holding the hatch-cover seemed perplexed, puzzled no doubt by the briefness of the ceremony.
The Sea-Wolf | Jack London
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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