brief

/ˈbrēf/

Middle English bref, breve, from Anglo-French bref, brief, from Latin brevis; akin to Old High German murg short, Greek brachys

adjective

  1. short in duration, extent, or length

  2. concise

  3. curt, abrupt

a brief meeting

noun

  1. an official letter or mandate; especially, Roman Catholicism : a papal letter less formal than a bull

  2. a specific instruction or responsibility

  3. a concise article (as in a newspaper)

his brief was to strengthen the army

verb

  1. to make an abstract or abridgment of

  2. to give final precise instructions to

  3. to coach thoroughly in advance

brief a report