[briːf], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- of short duration; not lasting for long
(e.g: he made a brief visit to Paris to attend two concerts)

- (of a piece of clothing) not covering much of the body; scanty
(e.g: a pair of extremely brief black shorts)


Phrases:
- hold a brief for
- hold no brief for
- in brief

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

[briːf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task
(e.g: his brief is to turn round the county's fortunes)

- a summary of the facts and legal points in a case given to a barrister to argue in court

- a letter from the Pope to a person or community on a matter of discipline


Phrases:
- hold a brief for
- hold no brief for
- in brief

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

[briːf], (Verb)

Definitions:
- instruct or inform (someone) thoroughly, especially in preparation for a task
(e.g: she briefed him on last week's decisions)

- instruct (a barrister) by brief


Phrases:
- hold a brief for
- hold no brief for
- in brief

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