brief has definitions from the fields of writing,law,clothing
1
[ adjective ] of short duration or distance

Synonyms

little

Examples

"a brief stay in the country" "in a little while" "it's a little way away"

Used in print

(The Atlanta Constitution...)

Hartsfield has been mayor of Atlanta , with exception of one brief interlude , since 1937 .

(Frank Getlein and Harold C. Gardiner, S.J., Movies,...)

Brief snips of actual events were shown : parades , dances , street scenes .

(Howard Fast, April Morning....)

The gunfire , which was so near that it seemed just a piece up the road now , stopped for long enough to count to twenty ; and in that brief interval , a redcoat officer came tearing down the road , whipping his horse fit to kill .

(Guy Bolton, The Olympians....)

At_last he consented to meet her , and following that brief interview Claire wrote him a yet more remarkable proposal :

She concluded by asking for a brief interview - `` to settle with you where '' - and she threw_in a tribute to his `` gentle manners '' and `` the wild originality of your countenance '' .

Related terms

short

2
[ adjective ] concise and succinct

Examples

"covered the matter in a brief statement"

Used in print

(E. Gellhorn, "Prolegomena to a theory of the emotions"...)

After this brief discussion of neo - , paleocortical , and cortico-hypothalamic relations , let us return once_more to the problem of hypothalamic balance and its physiological and pathological significance .

(Frieda Arkin, "The Light of the Sea," in The...)

He gave Abel a quick glance and moved closer to the wheel , hugging it to him , and Abel caught this briefest of allusions to guilt .

(Leo Lemon, "Catch Up With" and "Something to...)

This brief resume hardly does the book justice , but I heartily recommend it to all those who are engages with the major problems of our time .

Related terms

concise

3
[ noun ] (law,writing) a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case

Synonyms

legal_brief

Used in print

(U.S. Reports. Volume 364. Cases Adjudged in the...)

Haydn_C._Covington argued the cause and filed a brief for petitioner .

On the brief were Solicitor_General_Rankin , Assistant_Attorney_General_Wilkey , Beatrice_Rosenberg and J._F._Bishop .

4
[ adjective ] (of clothing) very short

Synonyms

abbreviated

Examples

"an abbreviated swimsuit" "a brief bikini"

Used in print

(Walter H. Buchsbaum, "Advances in Medical Electronics"...)

The medical title of `` Lobar_Ventilation_in_Man '' by Drs._C._J._Martin and A._C._Young , covers a brief paper which is one part of a much larger effort to apply electronics to the study of the respiratory process .

Related terms

short

5
[ verb ] give essential information to someone

Examples

"The reporters were briefed about the President's plan to invade"

Used in print

(Clayton C. Barbeau, The Ikon....)

Prevot had briefed the two new men that afternoon .

Related terms

instruct

6
[ noun ] (writing) a condensed written summary or abstract

Related terms

outline

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