brief

brief: brief adj Brief, short are the most comprehensive adjectives in English meaning not long.

Brief refers pri-marily to duration; short, to either duration or linear extent

{
a brief interview
}

{
a short sermon
}

{
a short distance
}

{
short legs
}

As applied to duration, brief and short are sometimes complete synonyms

{
a brief struggle
}

{
a short battle
}

But short frequently suggests incompleteness, curtailment, or sudden stoppage, and brief sometimes implies condensation

{
he cut his speech short
}

{
he made his speech as brief as possible
}

As applied to linear extent, brief is facetious and means extremely short

{
a brief skirt
}

Analogous words: *transient, fleeting, passing, momentary, shortlived: *concise, terse, succinct, laconic, pithy: compacted or compact, concentrated (see corresponding verbs at COMPACT): shortened, abbreviated, abridged, curtailed (see SHORTEN)

Antonyms: prolonged, protracted

Contrasted words: lengthened or lengthy, extended or extensive, elongated (see corresponding verbs at EXTEND)

brief n abstract, epitome, *abridgment, synopsis, conspectus

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Brief — (br[=e]f), n. [See {Brief}, a., and cf. {Breve}.] 1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words. [1913 Webster] Bear this sealed brief, With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. Shak. [1913 Webster] And she told me In a sweet,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Brief — or briefs may refer: * Brief (law), a number of formal document types * Brief (text editor), a popular text editor for the MS DOS operating system * a letter * Brief (architecture), a requirement imposed by a client on an architect * Briefs, a… … Wikipedia
Brief — (br[=e]f), a. [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L. brevis; akin to Gr. brachy s short, and perh. to Skr. barh to tear. Cf. {Breve}.] 1. Short in duration. [1913 Webster] How brief the life of man. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Concise; terse; succinct.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Brief — Brief, v. t. To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Brief — Brief, adv. 1. Briefly. [Obs. or Poetic] [1913 Webster] Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Soon; quickly. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Brief — Persönlicher Brief Hastiger Briefschreiber und Posti … Deutsch Wikipedia
brief — See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD … Dictionary of American idioms
brief — See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD … Dictionary of American idioms
brief — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English bref, breve, from Anglo French bref, brief, from Latin brevis; akin to Old High German murg short, Greek brachys Date: 14th century 1. short in duration, extent, or length 2. a. concise b. curt, abrupt • br … New Collegiate Dictionary
Brief therapy — is an umbrella term for a variety of approaches to psychotherapy. It differs from other schools of therapy in that it emphasises (1) a focus on a specific problem and (2) direct intervention. In brief therapy, the therapist takes responsibility… … Wikipedia
Brief of title — Brief Brief (br[=e]f), n. [See {Brief}, a., and cf. {Breve}.] 1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words. [1913 Webster] Bear this sealed brief, With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. Shak. [1913 Webster] And she told me In… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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