# brief

Pronunciation: say "BREEF" /bɹiːf/

## Adjective

1. Of short duration; lasting only a short time or happening quickly.
   - Simple: Lasting only a short time and over quickly.
   - _The mayor made a brief appearance at the festival before leaving for another event._
   - _After a brief pause, the orchestra began the second movement._
2. Concise; expressed in few words rather than at length.
   - Simple: Short and using only a few words.
   - _His reply was brief but answered every question we had raised._
   - _The manual's brief instructions fit on a single card._
8. Extending over only a small distance or area.
   - Simple: Short in size, covering only a small space.
   - _The dancers wore brief costumes of sequins and fringe._
   - _A brief strip of sand was all that remained at high tide._

## Verb

3. To give a person with decision-making power a summary of a recent development.
   - Simple: To quickly tell a leader or boss the facts they need to know.
   - _Aides brief the president every morning on overnight developments._
   - _Officials briefed the governor before her press conference on the flooding._
9. To prepare a written legal argument on a matter and submit it to a court.
   - Simple: To write the legal argument about something and send it to the court.
   - _Both parties must brief the jurisdictional issue by the end of the month._
   - _Counsel briefed the constitutional question at length on appeal._

## Noun

4. A close-fitting style of underwear without legs, worn by men or women.
   - Simple: A piece of tight underwear that has no legs.
   - _The brand's newest brief uses seamless fabric that won't show under clothing._
   - _He prefers briefs to boxers when he runs._
5. A written legal argument prepared by an attorney for submission to a court.
   - Simple: A paper a lawyer writes to tell a court why their side should win.
   - _Her appellate brief ran to sixty pages of argument and citations._
   - _The justices and their clerks read hundreds of briefs each term._
6. A short news story or report, giving only the essentials of an item.
   - Simple: A very short news story that gives only the main facts.
   - _The wire service sent out a two-paragraph brief on the verdict._
   - _Page two carried briefs on council votes, road closures, and school sports._
7. In law, a written summary of the factual and legal points on which a case is to be conducted.
   - Simple: A short paper that lists the facts and legal points a lawyer will use during a case.
   - _The junior associate prepared a brief of the controlling precedents for trial counsel's use._
   - _Counsel reviewed her briefs on the evidence the night before opening statements._
10. A position, cause, or interest that one supports or advocates.
   - Simple: A cause or side that a person supports and argues for.
   - _He holds no brief for the developers, but he thinks the plan deserves a fair hearing._
   - _Throughout her career, her brief was the defense of free expression._
11. The materials relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who will act as counsel.
   - Simple: The papers about a case that one lawyer gives to the lawyer who will speak in court.
   - _The solicitor delivered the brief to chambers a week before the hearing._
   - _Her brief included witness statements, correspondence, and the instructing solicitor's notes._
12. A writ summoning a person to answer in court, or more broadly any official letter or mandate from an authority.
   - Simple: An official letter or court order that tells someone to come and answer, or that gives a command.
   - _The sheriff served the brief on the defendant the next morning._
   - _A brief from the crown required the towns to provision the soldiers._
13. A barrister serving as counsel for a party in a legal action. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A lawyer who argues a case for someone in court.
   - _His brief rose to cross-examine the prosecution's first witness._
   - _The defendant whispered something to her brief before the judge returned._
14. A short official letter issued by the pope.
   - Simple: A short official letter written by the pope about church matters.
   - _The pope issued a brief granting the monastery's request._
   - _A brief from Rome confirmed the bishop's appointment within weeks._
15. A formal written answer submitted in response to a legal action brought against a party.
   - Simple: A written answer that one side gives in a court case.
   - _The defendant's brief responded to each of the plaintiff's allegations in turn._
   - _Counsel filed a brief contesting the charges within the required time._
16. A ticket of any type, such as a travel or admission ticket. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A ticket of any kind, like one for a train or a show.
   - _She flashed her brief at the gate and the inspector waved her through._
   - _A scalper offered them two briefs at twice the printed price._
17. An official document in the form of letters patent permitting money to be collected in churches for a public or private purpose. *(UK)*
   - Simple: An official letter that let churches collect money for a good cause.
   - _A royal brief authorised collections in every parish for rebuilding the church tower._
   - _The churchwardens recorded the brief and the sum gathered for the sufferers._

## Noun

18. A summary or abstract; a shortened version of a longer text giving its essential points. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A short version of a longer piece of writing that gives only the main points.
   - _He drew up a brief of the contract for his master to review._
   - _The secretary's brief of the proceedings ran to a single page._

## Adjective

19. Prevalent or widespread; occurring commonly throughout a place or population. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Very common, happening everywhere or among almost everyone.

## Adverb

20. In few words; without dwelling on details. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In a short way, using only a few words.
21. Soon or quickly; within a short space of time. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Soon, or after only a very short time.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English breef, from Old French brief, from Latin brevis ("short"), which traces back to Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus ("short, brief"). It is a doublet of breve and merry.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/brief (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).