[breef] 
adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb | 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.
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| 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. |
| 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. |
| brief (brēf) adj. brief·er, brief·est
[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. |
