/ brɪsk; NAmE / adjective ( comparative brisk·er , no superlative )
1.
quick; busy :
a brisk walk
to set off at a brisk pace
Ice-cream vendors were doing a brisk trade (= selling a lot of ice cream) .
2.
( of a person, their voice or manner ) practical and confident; showing a desire to get things done quickly :
His tone became brisk and businesslike.
3.
( of wind and the weather ) cold but pleasantly fresh :
a brisk wind / breeze
► brisk·ly adverb
► brisk·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: probably from French brusque lively, fierce, from Italian brusco sour.