Sekirov Dictionary

brief

/ˈbɹiːf/

adjective 4
noun 15
adverb 2
verb 2
forms 7
phrases 1

adjective4

•
short in time and soon over
- Her reign was brief but spectacular.
•
Concise; taking few words.
- His speech of acceptance was brief but moving.
•
Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
- On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks. — 1983
(no longer used) Rife; common; prevalent.

noun15

•
[usually plural] Underwear briefs.
- I wear boxer shorts under trousers but for sports I usually wear a brief.
•
An answer to any action.
- A written answer or any other brief shall be submitted to the court while allowing a period necessary for the opponent to make preparations with regard to the matters stated therein. — 1996
An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
•
A short news story or report.
- We got a news brief.
A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who is counsel for the case.
•
(figurative) A position of interest or advocacy.
- Mrs. Hope was, we believe, a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, and neither she nor her editor conceals the fact that they hold a brief for the Pope and for Catharine against Henry VIII. — 1894
[usually plural] Swimming briefs.
•
[before a noun] Attributive form of briefs.
- All Brad Woodburn had on was his brief underwear. — 2002
A writ summoning one to answer; an official letter or mandate.
A short papal letter.
(UK, historical) A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
(slang) A barrister who is counsel for a party in a legal action.
(slang) A ticket of any type.
•
(no longer used) A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
- […] euen so it fareth with mee, who béeing about to anatomize Absurditie, am vrged to take a view of sundry mens vanitie, a suruey of their follie, a briefe of their barbarisme […] — 1589

adverb2

•
(literary, no longer used) Briefly.
- Whence Adam faultring long, thus answer’d brief. — 1667
•
(literary, no longer used) Soon; quickly.
- But that a ioy past ioy, calls out on me, / It were a griefe, to briefe to part with thee : / Farewell. — 1591

verb2

•
To summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.
- The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.
To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.

forms

briefed · briefing · briefs · briefer · more brief · briefest · most brief

Phrases with brief

brief against
To harm the reputation of (someone or something) by making unfavorable or demeaning comments about (someone or something).

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