brief

brief
brief [brēf]
adj.
[ME < OFr bref < L brevis < IE base * mreĝhu-, short > MERRY, Gr brachys]
1. of short duration or extent
2. short in length
3. using relatively few words; concise
4. curt or abrupt
n.
[ME bref < OFr < LL breve < L, neut. of brevis: see BRIEF adj.]
1. a summary or abstract
2. a concise statement of the main points of a law case, usually filed by counsel for the information of the court
3. Chiefly Brit. a set of instructions for the participants in some project, investigation, etc., indicating the scope of their responsibilities: often used figuratively
4. R.C.Ch. a papal letter less formal than a bull
5. [pl.]
a) closefitting, legless undershorts
b) women's panties that cover the body from the waist to the leg
vt.
1. to make a summary of
2. to supply with all the pertinent instructions or information [to brief pilots before a flight]
3. Brit.
a) to furnish with a legal brief
b) to hire as counsel
SYN.- ABRIDGMENT
——————
hold a brief for
to argue for or be in favor of
——————
in brief
in short; in a few words
briefly
adv.
briefness
n.
SYN.- BRIEF and SHORT are opposites of long in their application to duration [a brief or short interval ], although BRIEF often emphasizes compactness, conciseness, etc. [a brief review ] and SHORT often implies incompleteness or curtailment [a short measure, to make short work of it ]; SHORT is usually used where linear extent is referred to [a short man ] –ANT. LONG1

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • brief — 1 n [Old French bref brief letter, writ indicating legal proceedings, from Late Latin brevis breve short document, summary, from Latin brevis, adjective, short] 1: a concise statement of a client s case written for the instruction of an attorney… …   Law dictionary

  • Brief — (br[=e]f), n. [See {Brief}, a., and cf. {Breve}.] 1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words. [1913 Webster] Bear this sealed brief, With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. Shak. [1913 Webster] And she told me In a sweet,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brief — adj Brief, short are the most comprehensive adjectives in English meaning not long. Brief refers pri marily to duration; short, to either duration or linear extent {a brief interview} {a short sermon} {a short distance} {short legs} …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Brief — or briefs may refer: * Brief (law), a number of formal document types * Brief (text editor), a popular text editor for the MS DOS operating system * a letter * Brief (architecture), a requirement imposed by a client on an architect * Briefs, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Brief — der; (e)s, e; 1 eine meist relativ lange, persönliche schriftliche Mitteilung in einem Umschlag, die man an jemanden schickt <jemandem / an jemanden einen Brief schreiben; einen Brief diktieren, frankieren, einwerfen, per / als Einschreiben… …   Langenscheidt Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache

  • Brief — (br[=e]f), a. [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L. brevis; akin to Gr. brachy s short, and perh. to Skr. barh to tear. Cf. {Breve}.] 1. Short in duration. [1913 Webster] How brief the life of man. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Concise; terse; succinct.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brief — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Se conoce como brief a la información que la empresa envía a la agencia de publicidad para que genere una comunicación. Tiene que existir una relación estrecha y de confianza entre la empresa y la agencia de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Brief — Sm std. (9. Jh.), mhd. brief, ahd. briaf, as. brēf n Entlehnung. Wie afr. brēf n., anord. bréf n. frühe Entlehnung aus l. breve n. kurzes Schreiben (zu l. brevis kurz ). Dabei geht g. ē2 auf gedehntes l. e zurück, f ist der Reflex von bereits… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • brief — brief; brief·less; brief·ly; brief·ness; de·brief; …   English syllables

  • Brief — Brief: Mit der Buchstabenschrift, die die Germanen durch die Römer kennenlernten – die kulturgeschichtlichen Zusammenhänge sind unter ↑ schreiben aufgezeigt –, strömte eine Fülle von fremden Bezeichnungen aus dem Lat. in unseren Sprachbereich.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

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