brief in English
- brief⇄adj. 1. lasting only a short time; short.
Ex. A brief shower fell just before noon.
(SYN) fleeting, transitory.
2. using few words.
Ex. He sent around a brief announcement of only a few lines. Be as brief as you can, giving just - brief⇄adv. briefly.
- brief⇄adv. 1. (Archaic.) in short; in a few words.
Ex. Brief, they made a monk of me (Robert Browning).
2. (Poetic.) in or after a brief time. - brief⇄brief, adjective, noun, verb, adverb.
- brief⇄expr. briefs, short, snug-fitting underpants.
Ex. [They] are cut freer than briefs to provide snug support without binding and chafing (New Yorker). - brief⇄expr. hold a brief for, to argue for; support; defend.
Ex. I hold no brief for cheating. Professor Dowden holds a brief for Shelley; he pleads for Shelley (Matthew Arnold). [He] holds little brief for slick and fashionable jargon (A. J. Vogl). - brief⇄expr. in brief, in few words; in short.
Ex. In brief, it has been an exciting day. - brief⇄noun briefer.
- brief⇄noun briefness.
- brief⇄noun 1. a short statement; summary.
2a. a statement of the facts and the points of law of a case to be pleaded in court.
b. (in England) an abstract of the facts of a case drawn up by a solicitor for the use of the barrister who acts in cou - brief⇄v.t. 1. to give detailed information to; furnish with a brief.
Ex. The park ranger briefed the boys on fire prevention. He was briefed by city and county officials on the progress of the joint investigation by their agencies into the cave-in (New Y
brief in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
brief in Sindhi سنڌي
brief in Telugu తెలుగు
Brief
Part of Speech
Adjective, Noun, Verb
Pronunciation
/briːf/
Definitions
- Adjective: Lasting or taking only a short time; not long in duration.
- Adjective: Concise in speech or writing, providing essential details without elaboration.
- Noun: A short summary or outline of the key points or information.
- Verb: To provide a concise summary or overview of important points.
Usage Examples
- "The meeting was brief, lasting only twenty minutes."
- "He gave a brief explanation of the situation."
- "She briefed her team on the latest developments."
- "The report is a brief of the project's progress."
Etymology
The word "brief" comes from the Old French word "brieff," which is derived from Latin "brevius," meaning "short." The term evolved in English to refer to something concise or short in duration. It first appeared in English in the late Middle Ages.
Synonyms
- Concise
- Short
- Compact
- Succinct
- Summary
- To the point
Antonyms
- Long
- Extended
- Prolonged
- Detailed
- Lengthy
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Breve | /ˈbɾeβe/ |
| French | Bref | /bʁɛf/ |
| German | Kurz | /kʊʁts/ |
| Italian | Breve | /ˈbrɛːve/ |
| Portuguese | Breve | /ˈbɾɛvɨ/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 简短 | /jiǎn duǎn/ |
| Russian | Краткий | /ˈkratkʲɪj/ |
| Japanese | 簡潔 | /kanketsu/ |
| Korean | 간결한 | /gan-gyeol-han/ |
| Arabic | موجز | /mujaz/ |
| Hindi | संक्षिप्त | /saṅkṣipt/ |
| Bengali | সংক্ষিপ্ত | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Punjabi | ਸੰਖੇਪ | /saṅkhēp/ |
| Marathi | संक्षिप्त | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Gujarati | સંક્ષિપ્ત | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Malayalam | സംക്ഷിപ്ത | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Tamil | சுருக்கமான | /curukkamāṉa/ |
| Telugu | సంక్షిప్త | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Odia | ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ | /saṅkṣipta/ |
| Kannada | ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತ | /saṅkṣipta/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In American English, "brief" is typically pronounced with a slightly stronger emphasis on the "ee" sound, making it sound clearer and more pronounced.
- In British English, the pronunciation is similar but may sound a bit softer in casual conversation.
Historical Usage
The word "brief" has been in use since Middle English, originally from the Latin word "brevis" meaning "short" or "short in duration." It became common in legal and professional contexts to refer to a short summary or a concise statement of facts, which still persists in modern usage.
Cultural Nuances
In professional and corporate environments, "brief" often denotes a short, to-the-point communication, while in informal settings, it may refer to casual but concise conversation. The term has also extended into the digital world, where brevity is valued in text communication like emails and social media posts.
More Information
The term "brief" can apply to a variety of situations, from the description of short physical durations to the concise nature of written or spoken communication. The word has many applications across different fields, including law (as in a "legal brief"), journalism, and general everyday conversation. The concept of brevity is often associated with efficiency, clarity, and respect for time in modern society.