brief
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brief
(brēf)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 upset because he was so brief with us.
n.
1. A short, succinct statement.
2. A condensation or an abstract of a larger document or series of documents.
3. Law A document concisely stating the legal points being made, including often the citation and explanation of supporting legal authority.
4. Roman Catholic Church A papal letter that is not as formal as a bull.
5. A briefing.
6. often briefs Short, tight-fitting underpants.
7. briefs Chiefly British The instructions that are given to explain a task or assignment.
tr.v. briefed, brief·ing, briefs
Idiom: 1. To give instructions or preparatory information to: briefed the astronauts before the mission.
2. To summarize.
in brief
In short.
[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.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
brief
(briːf)adj
1. short in duration: a brief holiday.
2. short in length or extent; scanty: a brief bikini.
3. abrupt in manner; brusque: the professor was brief with me this morning.
4. terse or concise; containing few words: he made a brief statement.
n
5. (Journalism & Publishing) a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract
6. (Law) law a document containing all the facts and points of law of a case by which a solicitor instructs a barrister to represent a client
7. (Roman Catholic Church) RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief
8. short for briefing
9. (Rhetoric) a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate
10. (Professions) slang Brit a lawyer, esp a barrister
11. hold a brief for to argue for; champion
12. in brief in short; to sum up
vb (tr)
13. to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts
14. to make a summary or synopsis of
15. (Law) English law
a. to instruct (a barrister) by brief
b. to retain (a barrister) as counsel
16. (foll by: against) to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding someone, as to the media, a politician, etc
[C14: from Old French bref, from Latin brevis; related to Greek brakhus]
ˈbriefly adv
ˈbriefness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
brief
(brif)adj. brief•er, brief•est,
n., v. adj.
1. lasting or taking a short time.
2. using few words; concise: a brief report.
3. abrupt; curt.
4. scanty: a brief bathing suit.
n. 5. a short and concise statement or written item.
6.
a. a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
b. a written statement submitted to a court by counsel presenting the principal facts, points of law, and arguments related to a client's case.
7. an outline, summary.
8. briefs, (used with a pl. v.) close-fitting legless underpants with an elastic waistband.
9. a papal letter less formal than a bull.
v.t. 10. to make an abstract or summary of.
11. to instruct by a brief or briefing.
Idioms: in brief, in a few words; in short.
[1250–1300; Middle English bref < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin brevis short; see breve]
brief′er, n.
brief′ly, adv.
brief′ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
brief
Past participle: briefed
Gerund: briefing
| Imperative |
|---|
| brief |
| brief |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  brief - a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's caselegal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right amicus curiae brief - a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
| 2. | brief - a condensed written summary or abstract | |
| Verb | 1. | brief - give essential information to someone; "The reporters were briefed about the President's plan to invade" |
| Adj. | 1. | brief - of short duration or distance; "a brief stay in the country" short - primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; "a short life"; "a short flight"; "a short holiday"; "a short story"; "only a few short months" |
| 2. | brief - concise and succinct; "covered the matter in a brief statement" concise - expressing much in few words; "a concise explanation" | |
| 3. |  brief - (of clothing) very short; "an abbreviated swimsuit"; "a brief bikini"short - (primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length; "short skirts"; "short hair"; "the board was a foot short"; "a short toss" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
brief
adjective
1. short, fast, quick, temporary, fleeting, swift, short-lived, little, hasty, momentary, ephemeral, quickie (informal), transitory This time their visit is brief.
short long, extensive, lengthy, protracted
short long, extensive, lengthy, protracted
2. concise, short, limited, to the point, crisp, compressed, terse, curt, laconic, succinct, clipped, pithy, thumbnail, monosyllabic Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
concise long, detailed, lengthy, diffuse, long-winded, long-drawn-out, circuitous
concise long, detailed, lengthy, diffuse, long-winded, long-drawn-out, circuitous
verb
noun
1. instructions, remit, briefing, guidelines, mandate, directive Hughes will be given the brief of man-marking Francesco Totti.
2. summary, résumé, outline, sketch, abstract, summing-up, digest, epitome, rundown, synopsis, précis, recapitulation, abridgment He gives me my first brief of the situation.
4. briefly, in summary, in synopsis, in digest form And now sport in brief.
5. in short, briefly, in essence, in a word, in a nutshell, to sum up, to come to the point, to put it briefly In brief, take no risks.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
brief
adjective1. Not long in time or duration:
2. Accomplished in very little time:
3. Marked by or consisting of few words that are carefully chosen:
A short summary or version prepared by cutting down a larger work:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
لَمْحَةٌ مُخْتَصَرهوَجيزوَجيز، قَصيريُعْطي تَعْليمات
krátkýstručnýstručný výtahzprávadát instruktáž
kortkortvarigorienteresagsresumébriefe
lyhyt
kratak
megbízást adrövidtényállástömörügyvédi megbízást ad
stutturupplÿsa, kynnayfirlit
短い
잠시의
apatinės kelnėsaplankasbrifingasinstruktažasinstruktuoti
instruētīssīss lietas izklāstsneilgsrezumējums
dať inštruktáž
dati napotkekratek
kort
อย่างสั้น
kısabrifing yapmakdava özetigerekli bilgileri vermek
ngắn gọn
brief
[briːf]A. ADJ (briefer (compar) (briefest (superl)))
B. N
1. (Jur) → escrito m
to hold a brief for sb (fig) → ser partidario de algn, abogar por algn
I hold no brief for those who → no soy partidario de los que ..., no abogo por los que ...
I hold no brief for him → no lo defiendo
to hold a brief for sb (fig) → ser partidario de algn, abogar por algn
I hold no brief for those who → no soy partidario de los que ..., no abogo por los que ...
I hold no brief for him → no lo defiendo
2. (= instructions, remit) → instrucciones fpl
his brief is to negotiate a solution to the conflict → sus instrucciones son solucionar el conflicto mediante negociaciones
it's not part of my brief to sort out disputes → no entra dentro de mi competencia solventar disputas
his brief is to negotiate a solution to the conflict → sus instrucciones son solucionar el conflicto mediante negociaciones
it's not part of my brief to sort out disputes → no entra dentro de mi competencia solventar disputas
3. briefs (man's) → calzoncillos mpl, slip m, calzones mpl (LAm); (woman's) → bragas fpl (Sp), calzones mpl (LAm)
C. VT
1. (Jur, Mil) (= instruct) → dar instrucciones a
the pilots were briefed → dieron instrucciones a los pilotos
the pilots were briefed → dieron instrucciones a los pilotos
2. (= inform, prepare) → informar
we were briefed on recent developments → nos informaron sobre los acontecimientos recientes
we were briefed on recent developments → nos informaron sobre los acontecimientos recientes
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
brief
[ˈbriːf] adj
[appearance, visit, statement, description] → bref(brève)
vt
(= inform) to brief sb about sth → mettre qn au courant de qch
(= instruct) → donner des instructions à
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
brief
adj (+er) → kurz; (= curt also) manner → kurz angebunden; in brief → kurz; the news in brief → Kurznachrichten pl; to be brief → um es kurz zu machen; could you give me a brief idea … → könnten Sie mir kurz erzählen …
n
(Jur) → Auftrag m (an einen Anwalt); (= document) → Unterlagen pl → zu dem/einem Fall; (= instructions) → Instruktionen pl; to take a brief (Jur) → einen Fall annehmen; to hold a brief for somebody (Jur) → jds Sache vor Gericht vertreten; I hold no brief for him (fig) → ich will nicht für ihn plädieren
(= instructions) → Auftrag m
(Brit sl: = lawyer) → Rechtsverdreher m
vt
(= give instructions, information to) → instruieren (→ on über +acc); the pilots were briefed on what they had to do → die Piloten wurden instruiert, was sie tun sollten
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
brief
[briːf]1. adj (visit, period, moment, speech) → breve; (glimpse) → veloce, breve
for a brief moment I thought ... → per un attimo ho creduto...
I caught a brief glimpse of the queen → ho intravisto per un attimo la regina
in brief ... → in breve..., a farla breve...
for a brief moment I thought ... → per un attimo ho creduto...
I caught a brief glimpse of the queen → ho intravisto per un attimo la regina
in brief ... → in breve..., a farla breve...
2. n
a. (Law) → dossier m inv
3. vt (Mil) → dare istruzioni a
to brief sb (about sth) (person) → mettere qn al corrente (di qc) (Law) → affidare una causa a
to brief sb (about sth) (person) → mettere qn al corrente (di qc) (Law) → affidare una causa a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
brief
(briːf) adjective not long; short. a brief visit; a brief account.
noun a short statement of facts (especially in a lawsuit, of a client's case). a lawyer's brief.
verb to give detailed instructions to (especially a barrister, group of soldiers etc). The astronauts were briefed before the space mission.
ˈbriefing noun instructions and information. The pilots were given a briefing before they left.
ˈbriefly adverbHe told me briefly what he knew.
briefs noun plural (used especially in shops) women's pants or men's underpants. a pair of briefs.
brevity (ˈbrevəti) noun shortness (of speech, writing, time etc). He is well known for the brevity of his speeches.
ˈbriefcase noun a light case for papers, made of leather etc. a businessman's briefcase.
in brief in a few words. In brief, we have been successful.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
brief
→ وَجيز krátký kort kurz σύντομος breve lyhyt bref kratak breve 短い 잠시의 kort kort zwięzły breve недолгий kort อย่างสั้น kısa ngắn gọn 简短的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
brief
n. sumario, resumen;
adv. brevemente, concisamente; en pocas palabras;
a. breve, corto-a, conciso-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012