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adjective · 1 syllable · /briːf/

BRIEF

What does "BRIEF" mean?

Lasting only a short time, or using few words.

Meanings

  1. Of short duration; lasting only a little while. They shared a brief glance before he turned away.
  2. Concise; using few words. Please keep your report brief.
  3. A set of instructions or a summary of facts given for a task or case. The lawyer reviewed the brief the night before trial.
  4. To give someone the essential information they need. The pilot was briefed on the weather before takeoff.
  5. Underpants, especially close-fitting ones. He packed three pairs of briefs for the trip. informal

Did you know?

  • The musical 'breve' shares the root 'brevis' (short) with 'brief' - ironically, the breve is now one of the longest notes a musician can write.

Word origin

From Latin 'brevis' meaning short, via Old French 'brief'; the same root gives 'abbreviate', 'brevity', and the musical 'breve'.

Remember it

BRIEF is the Latin 'brevis' shortened to one breath - say it fast, it's gone.

A little poem

A spark, a name, a hand that lets you go-
the brief things are the ones we hardest know.

couplet

Wordplay

  • The lawyer's argument was brief, but his underwear was even briefer.

What it teaches

Brevity is not the absence of substance; it is substance with the padding cut away.

Quick facts

What does BRIEF mean?

Lasting only a short time, or using few words.

Is BRIEF a valid word?

Yes — BRIEF is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is BRIEF?

BRIEF has 5 letters and 1 syllable.

Where does BRIEF come from?

From Latin 'brevis' meaning short, via Old French 'brief'; the same root gives 'abbreviate', 'brevity', and the musical 'breve'.

What can BRIEF teach us?

Brevity is not the absence of substance; it is substance with the padding cut away.

How players do

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