brief
♦♦ brief /br'iːf/ (briefer briefest briefs briefing briefed)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is brief lasts for only a short time.
She once made a brief appearance on television...
This time their visit is brief.
= fleeting
≠ lengthy
2 [ADJ]
A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details.
In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs...
Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
= short
3 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you are brief, you say what you want to say in as few words as possible.
Now please be brief-my time is valuable...
= succinct
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You can describe a period of time as brief if you want to emphasize that it is very short.
For a few brief minutes we forgot the anxiety and anguish.
≠ long
5 [N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Men's or women's underpants can be referred to as briefs.
A bra and a pair of briefs lay on the floor.
6 [VERB] V n, V n
If someone briefs you, especially about a piece of work or a serious matter, they give you information that you need before you do it or consider it.
A Defense Department spokesman briefed reporters...
The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.
= fill in
7 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf
If someone gives you a brief, they officially give you responsibility for dealing with a particular thing. (mainly BRIT FORMAL)
...customs officials with a brief to stop foreign porn coming into Britain.
= responsibility
8
see also briefer, briefing
9 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You can say in brief to indicate that you are about to say something in as few words as possible or to give a summary of what you have just said.
In brief, take no risks.brief against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If someone, especially a politician, briefs against another person, he or she tries to harm the other person's reputation by saying something unfavourable about them. (BRIT)
Ministerial colleagues were briefing against him.
1 [ADJ]
Something that is brief lasts for only a short time.
She once made a brief appearance on television...
This time their visit is brief.
= fleeting
≠ lengthy
2 [ADJ]
A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details.
In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs...
Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
= short
3 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you are brief, you say what you want to say in as few words as possible.
Now please be brief-my time is valuable...
= succinct
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You can describe a period of time as brief if you want to emphasize that it is very short.
For a few brief minutes we forgot the anxiety and anguish.
≠ long
5 [N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Men's or women's underpants can be referred to as briefs.
A bra and a pair of briefs lay on the floor.
6 [VERB] V n, V n
If someone briefs you, especially about a piece of work or a serious matter, they give you information that you need before you do it or consider it.
A Defense Department spokesman briefed reporters...
The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.
= fill in
7 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf
If someone gives you a brief, they officially give you responsibility for dealing with a particular thing. (mainly BRIT FORMAL)
...customs officials with a brief to stop foreign porn coming into Britain.
= responsibility
8
see also briefer, briefing
9 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You can say in brief to indicate that you are about to say something in as few words as possible or to give a summary of what you have just said.
In brief, take no risks.brief against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If someone, especially a politician, briefs against another person, he or she tries to harm the other person's reputation by saying something unfavourable about them. (BRIT)
Ministerial colleagues were briefing against him.