— briefer , n. — briefness , n.
/breef/ , adj., briefer, briefest , n. , v.
adj.
1. lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.
2. using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.
3. abrupt or curt.
4. scanty: a brief bathing suit.
n.
5. a short and concise statement or written item.
6. an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy: a debater's brief.
7. Law.
a. a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
b. a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
c. a written argument submitted to a court.
d. (in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
8. an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.
9. briefs , ( used with a pl. v. ) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.
10. briefing.
11. Rom. Cath. Ch. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope's signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.
12. Theat. Brit. a free ticket; pass.
13. Obs. a letter.
14. hold a brief for , to support or defend by argument; endorse.
15. in brief , in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.
v.t.
16. to make an abstract or summary of.
17. to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.
18. Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.
[ 1250-1300; ME bref brevis short; see BREVE ]
Syn. 1. short-lived, fleeting, transitory, ephemeral, transient. See short. 2. terse, compact, pithy, condensed. 5. outline, précis, epitome, abstract. See summary. 16. summarize, outline.