Search results for 'brief':

brief adj (briefer, briefest) 1 lasting only a short time • a brief meeting. 2 short or small • a brief pair of shorts. 3 said of writing or speech: using few words; concise • a brief note. noun 1 law a a summary of the facts and legal points of a case, prepared for the barrister who will be dealing with the case in court; b a case taken by a barrister; c colloq a barrister. 2 instructions given for a job or task. 3 (briefs) a woman's or man's close-fitting underpants without legs. 4 (also breve and papal brief) RC Church a letter from the Pope, less formal in nature than a papal bull³, written on a matter of discipline. verb (briefed, briefing) 1 to prepare someone by giving them instructions in advance. 2 law a to inform (a barrister) about a case by brief (noun 1a); b to retain (a barrister) as counsel. briefless adj said of a barrister: holding no brief; without a client. briefly adverb 1 using few words • Let me explain it briefly. 2 for a short time • visited her briefly at home. briefness noun being brief, especially using few words; brevity. hold a brief for someone or something 1 law said of a barrister: to be retained as counsel for them or it. 2 to advocate something; to argue for them or it. hold a brief or no brief for someone or something to support or not to support (ie argue in favour of) them or it. in brief in few words; briefly.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c as bref: French, from Latin brevis short.