Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   brief

   /briːf/

   adjective

   • 1. of short duration; not lasting for long: "he made a brief visit to Paris to attend two concerts" Similar shortflyingfleetinghastyhurriedquickcursoryperfunctorytemporaryshort-livedmomentarypassingtransienttransitoryimpermanentfadingephemeralevanescentfugitiveinformal:quickierare:fugaciousOpposite long
   • ▪ concise in expression; using few words: "introductions were brief and polite" Similar concisesuccinctshortthumbnailto the pointpithyincisiveshort and sweetcrispabridgedcondensedcompressedabbreviatedcompactcompendiouspottedepigrammaticaphoristiclaconicsparingtersepointedcurtclippedmonosyllabicOpposite lengthylong-winded
   • 2. (of a piece of clothing) not covering much of the body; scanty: "a pair of extremely brief black shorts" Similar skimpyscantyrevealingshortlow-cut

   noun

   • 1. a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task: British "his brief is to turn round the county's fortunes" Similar instructionsdirectionsdirectivesbriefinginformationguidelinesguidanceremitmandateinformal:rundownlow-downgen
   • 2. a summary of the facts and legal points in a case given to a barrister to argue in court. British Similar summary of the factscaseargumentcontentiondossier
   • ▪ a piece of work for a barrister: "he cannot be too highly recommended, if he is free and will take the brief"
   • ▪ a solicitor or barrister: informal British "it was only his brief's eloquence that had saved him from prison" Similar lawyerlegal representativesolicitorbarristercounselQueen's CounselQCdefending counseladvocateattorneycounsellor-at-law
   • ▪ a written statement of the facts and legal points supporting one side of a case, for presentation to a court. US
   • 3. a letter from the Pope to a person or community on a matter of discipline.

   verb

   • 1. instruct or inform (someone) thoroughly, especially in preparation for a task: "she briefed him on last week's decisions"
   • 2. instruct (a barrister) by brief. British

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French brief, from Latin brevis ‘short’. The noun is via late Latin breve ‘note, dispatch’, hence ‘an official letter’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. briefness noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • B

     3

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishBRIEF | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   BRIEF definition: 1. lasting only a short time or containing few words: 2. used to express how quickly time goes…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › briefBrief Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › brief

   • Cached

   noun. 1. a. : an official letter or mandate (see mandate entry 1 sense 1) especially, Roman Catholicism : a papal letter less formal than a bull. b. : a specific instruction or responsibility.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › briefBRIEF Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › brief

   • Cached

   noun. a short and concise statement or written item. Synonyms: abstract, epitome, précis, outline. 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.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishBRIEF definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   16 meanings: 1. short in duration 2. short in length or extent; scanty 3. abrupt in manner; brusque 4. terse or concise;.... Click for more definitions.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishbrief adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of brief adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › briefBrief - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › brief

   Something brief is short and to the point. If you make a brief visit, you don't stay long. If you make a brief statement, you use few words. If you wear brief shorts, you are showing a little too much leg. As a noun, a brief is a condensed summary or abstract, especially a legal summary of a case.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › briefBrief - definition of brief by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › brief

   • Cached

   Define brief. brief synonyms, brief pronunciation, brief translation, English dictionary definition of brief. 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: We were...