brief

¹brief

adjective \ˈbrēf\

Definition of BRIEF

1

: short in duration, extent, or length

2

a : concise

b : curt, abrupt

— brief·ness noun

Examples of BRIEF

1. The meeting will be brief.
2. The essay is brief but thorough enough.
3. a few brief words of caution

Origin of BRIEF

Middle English bref, breve, from Anglo-French bref, brief, from Latin brevis; akin to Old High German murg short, Greek brachys

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BRIEF

Synonyms

aphoristic, apothegmatic, concise, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Antonyms

circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

Related Words

abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turned

Near Antonyms

pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated

Rhymes with BRIEF

beef, chief, fief, grief, kef, leaf, lief, reef, sheaf, thief

²brief

noun

Definition of BRIEF

1

a : an official letter or mandate; especially : a papal letter less formal than a bull

b : a specific instruction or responsibility <his brief was to strengthen the army>

2

a : a concise article

b : synopsis, summary

c : a concise statement of a client's case made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law

3

: an outline of an argument; especially : a formal outline especially in law that sets forth the main contentions with supporting statements or evidence

4

plural : short snug pants or underpants

— in brief

: in a few words : briefly

Examples of BRIEF

1. Her brief is to manage the company's sales department.
2. <a one-page brief of the intelligence report>

Origin of BRIEF

Middle English bref, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin brevis, from Late Latin, summary, from Latin brevis, adjective

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BRIEF

Synonyms

abstract, breviary, summary, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé (or resume also resumé), roundup, rundown, run-through, sum, summa, summarization, summing-up, sum-up, synopsis, wrap-up

Related Words

abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening; simplification, streamlining; rehash, reprise; conclusion, epilogue (also epilog)

Near Antonyms

amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement

³brief

transitive verb

Definition of BRIEF

1

: to make an abstract or abridgment of

2

a : to give final precise instructions to

b : to coach thoroughly in advance

c : to give essential information to

3

: to discuss (as a military operation) in a briefing <briefed the mission>

— brief·er noun

Examples of BRIEF

1. The captain briefed the crew on the new safety procedures.
2. The President has been briefed by his advisers.

First Known Use of BRIEF

15th century

Related to BRIEF

Synonyms

acquaint, advise, apprise, enlighten, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up)

Related Words

advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive

Near Antonyms

misinform, mislead

Other Broadcasting Terms

continuity, dissolve, fade, feed, remote, residual, spike, wipe