- (a.) A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2.
- (a.) An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.
- (n.) A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
- (a.) Rife; common; prevalent.
- (a.) A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.
- (a.) An epitome.
- (a.) Short in duration.
- (v.t.) To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.
- (adv.) Briefly.
- (n.) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.
- (adv.) Soon; quickly.
- (a.) Concise; terse; succinct.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). brief. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/brief/definitions/1982486 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "brief" http://smartdefine.org/brief/definitions/1982486 (accessed September 23, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, brief, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/brief/definitions/1982486>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "brief" 27 May 2011. Web. 23 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/brief/definitions/1982486> |