Definitions for brief
brifbrief

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brief, legal brief(noun)

   a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case

2. brief(adj)

   a condensed written summary or abstract

3. brief(adj)

   of short duration or distance

   "a brief stay in the country"

4. brief(adj)

   concise and succinct

   "covered the matter in a brief statement"

5. abbreviated, brief(verb)

   (of clothing) very short

   "an abbreviated swimsuit"; "a brief bikini"

6. brief(verb)

   give essential information to someone

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

Wiktionary(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brief(Noun)

   An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

2. brief(Noun)

   A short news story or report.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

3. brief(Noun)

   A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

4. brief(Verb)

   To knowledgeably summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.

   The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

5. brief(Verb)

   To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

6. brief(Adjective)

   Of short duration; happening quickly.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

7. brief(Adjective)

   Concise; taking few words.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

8. brief(Adjective)

   Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

Webster Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief(adj)

   short in duration

2. Brief(adj)

   concise; terse; succinct

3. Brief(adj)

   rife; common; prevalent

4. Brief(adverb)

   briefly

5. Brief(adverb)

   soon; quickly

6. Brief(adj)

   a short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words

7. Brief(adj)

   an epitome

8. Brief(adj)

   an abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument

9. Brief(adj)

   a writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2

10. Brief(noun)

    a writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence

11. Brief(noun)

    a letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose

12. Brief(verb)

    to make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings

Freebase(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   A brief is a written legal document used in various legal adversarial systems that is presented to a court arguing why one party to a particular case should prevail. In England and Wales, the phrase refers to the papers given to a barrister when they are instructed.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   brēf, n. a short account of a client's case for the instruction of counsel: a writ: a short statement of any kind.—adj. short: concise.—adj. Brief′less.—adv. Brief′ly.—n. Brief′ness.—In brief, in few words.—King's briefs, royal mandates ordering collections to be made in chapels for building churches, &c.; Papal brief, such documents as are issued without some of the solemnities proper to bulls.—The brief and the long (Shak.), the short and the long.—To be brief, to speak in a few words; To hold a brief, to be retained as counsel in a case; To take a brief, to undertake a case. [Fr. bref—L. brevis, short.]

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   A brief summary of all the facts of a client’s case prepared by a solicitor for the instruction of counsel.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2192

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2470

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Adjectives Frequency: #277

Anagrams for brief »

1. fiber, fibre

2. Fiber

3. Fibre

How to pronounce brief?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say brief in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of brief in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of brief in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of brief in a Sentence

1. Harlan Ellison, "Paladin of the Lost Hour":

   Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment.

2. Yale University:

   It's key to give them the level of information they want at the level of their request, comfort, explain and let it go. It can be really very brief.

3. Ajit Pai:

   On advice of security, we need to take a brief recess.

4. The Navy:

   There are no indications that the Sailors were harmed during their brief detention.

5. Rob Hentschel:

   I'm going to take a brief pause right now because of the insinuation of racism in this board, and because I take that very seriously. If any particular commissioner would like to denounce any particular hate group that's fine.

Images & Illustrations of brief

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