brief

brief is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /briːf/
• SAMPA: /bri:f/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Adjective

Positive brief

Comparative briefer

Superlative briefest

1. If something is brief, it is for a short time.

   Today there will be brief periods of rain.

   Today's meeting should be very brief.

   The ceremony included a brief speech by the president.

   She arrived when she was 13 months old and, except for one brief period, she never left.

   During the brief interview I was asked why I wanted to work for UPS.

2. If a piece of clothing such as shorts or a skirt is brief, it is short.

   One of them was naked, the other wore only a pair of brief shorts.

Synonyms

• short

Related words

• briefly

Noun

Singular brief

Plural briefs

A pair of briefs

1. (countable) A brief is a short piece of writing or a short talk.

   They've been asked to file briefs, stating why they think the case should not be heard.

   My father was at work, reading through a pile of legal briefs.

2. (countable) (plural) Briefs are short underpants.

   Could you tell whether he was wearing briefs or boxers under his trousers?

3. You use in brief to show that you will speak or write in a short way.

   In brief, the results suggest that coffee is not harmful in small amounts.

Synonyms

• mission
• task
• orders
• preparation
• guidelines
• instructions
• briefing

Related words

• briefcase

Verb

Plain form brief

Third-person singular briefs

Past tense briefed

Past participle briefed

Present participle briefing

1. (transitive) If you brief someone, you tell them the most important information about something.

   Army General David Petraeus briefed the president on the progress of the plan.

Synonyms

• tell
• prepare
• direct
• inform
• update
• instruct

Related words

• briefing
• debrief