brief
See also: Brief
brief - English
Pronunciation
- enPR: brēf, IPA: /bɹiːf/
Adjective
brief (comparative briefer, superlative briefest)
- Of short duration; happening quickly.
- 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.
- Her skirt was extremely brief but doubtless cool.
- (obsolete) Rife; common; prevalent.
Synonyms
- See also ephemeral
- See also concise
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
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Noun
brief (plural briefs)
- (law) A writ summoning one to answer; an official letter or mandate.
- (law) An answer to any action.
- (law) A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
- (by extension, figurative) A position of interest or advocacy.
- (law) An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
- (English law) The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who is counsel for the case.
- (English law, slang) A barrister who is counsel for a party in a legal action.
- A short news story or report.
- We got a news brief.
- (usually in the plural) underwear briefs.
- I wear boxers under trousers but for sports I usually wear a brief.
- (obsolete) A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
- (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 ticket of any type.
Derived terms
Translations
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Verb
brief (third-person singular simple present briefs, present participle briefing, simple past and past participle briefed)
- (transitive) 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.
- (transitive, law) To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.
Derived terms
Translations
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Adverb
brief (comparative more brief, superlative most brief)
Related terms
Anagrams
brief - Afrikaans
Pronunciation
- IPA: /brif/
Noun
brief (plural briewe)
- letter (written message)
brief - Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA: /brif/
- Hyphenation: brief
Noun
brief m (plural brieven, diminutive briefje n)
- letter (written message)
Derived terms
- aanbevelingsbrief
- aanbiedingsbrief
- antraxbrief
- bedelbrief
- bombrief
- borgbrief
- boterbriefje
- brandbrief
- briefbom
- briefenvelop
- briefkaart
- briefomslag
- briefopener
- brievenbus
- doorbrieven
- dreigbrief
- kaperbrief
- kogelbrief
- liefdesbrief
- miltvuurbrief
- minnebrief
- overbrieven
- poederbrief
- rondbrieven
- verzoekbrief
Descendants
brief - Middle French
Adjective
brief m (feminine singular briefve, masculine plural briefs, feminine plural briefves)
Descendants
- French: bref
brief - Old French
Alternative forms
Adjective
brief m (oblique and nominative feminine singular brieve)
Declension
Derived terms
Noun
brief m (oblique plural briés, nominative singular briés, nominative plural brief)