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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
brief    Audio Help   [breef] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb
–adjective
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.
–noun
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.a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
b.a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
c.a written argument submitted to a court.
d.(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.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.
–verb (used with object)
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.
—Idioms
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.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME bref < AF, OF < L brevis short; see breve]

—Related forms
briefer, noun
briefness, noun

—Synonyms 1. short-lived, fleeting, transitory, ephemeral, transient. See short. 2. terse, compact, pithy, condensed. 5. outline, précis, epitome, abstract. See summary. 14. summarize, outline.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
briefs

To learn more about briefs visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
brief    Audio Help   (brēf)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.   brief·er, brief·est
  1. Short in time, duration, length, or extent.
  2. Succinct; concise: a brief account of the incident.
  3. Curt; abrupt.

n.  
  1. A short, succinct statement.
  2. A condensation or an abstract of a larger document or series of documents.
  3. Law
    1. A formal outline listing main contentions along with supporting evidence and documentation.
    2. A document containing all the facts and points of law pertinent to a specific case, filed by an attorney before arguing the case in court.
  4. Roman Catholic Church A papal letter that is not as formal as a bull.
  5. A briefing.
  6. briefs Short, tight-fitting underpants.

tr.v.   briefed, brief·ing, briefs
  1. To summarize.
  2. To give instructions or preparatory information to: briefed the astronauts before the mission.


[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; see mregh-u- in Indo-European roots.]

brief'er n., brief'ly adv., brief'ness n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
briefs

noun
short tight-fitting underpants (trade name Jockey shorts) 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
briefs noun plural
(used especially in shops) women's pants or men's underpants
Example: a pair of briefs
Arabic: لِباس تَحْتاني قَصير
Chinese (Simplified): 短裤
Chinese (Traditional): 短褲
Czech: kalhotky, slipy
Danish: trusser; underbukser
Dutch: slipje, onderbroek
Estonian: aluspüksid
Finnish: pikkuhousut
French: slip
German: der Slip
Greek: σλιπάκι
Hungarian: bugyi
Icelandic: (nær)buxur
Indonesian: celana dalam
Italian: slip
Japanese: ブリーフ
Latvian: biksītes; (īsās) apakšbikses
Lithuanian: apatinės kelnės
Norwegian: truser
Polish: spodenki
Portuguese (Brazil): calcinha, cueca
Portuguese (Portugal): cuecas
Romanian: slip
Russian: трусы
Slovak: nohavičky, spodky
Slovenian: hlačke
Spanish: calzoncillos; bragas; ropa interior
Swedish: kalsong
Turkish: don
See also: brevity, brief, briefcase, briefing, briefly, in brief

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Browse Nearby Entries:

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