Brief

–adjective

1.	lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.

2.	using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.

3.	abrupt or curt.

4.	scanty: a brief bathing suit.

–noun

5.	a short and concise statement or written item.

6.	an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy: a debater's brief.

7.	Law. a. a writ summoning one to answer to any action. b. a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case. c. a written argument submitted to a court. d. (in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.

8.	an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.

9.	briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.

10.

briefing.

11.	Roman Catholic Church. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope's signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.

12.	British Theater. a free ticket; pass.

13.	Obsolete. a letter.

–verb (used with object)

14.	to make an abstract or summary of.

15.	to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.

16.	Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.

—Idioms

17.	hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.

18.	in brief, in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.