A brief is a written document containing the summary of the facts of the case, pertinent laws, and a party’s argument applying the law to the facts.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
brief (adjective)1.
short in duration, extent, or length
2.
a) - concise
b) - curt abrupt
1.
a) an official letter or mandate , especially a papal letter less formal than a bull
b) a specific instruction or responsibility - his brief was to strengthen the army
2.
a) a concise article
b) - synopsis summary
c) a concise statement of a client's case made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law
3.
an outline of an argument , especially a formal outline especially in law that sets forth the main contentions with supporting statements or evidence
4.
short snug pants or underpants
transitive verb
1.
to make an abstract or abridgment of
2.
a) to give final precise instructions to
b) to coach thoroughly in advance
c) to give essential information to
3.
to discuss (as a military operation) in a - briefing briefed the mission
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
brief (adjective)1.
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
SYNONYMS:
aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical ( elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnailRELATED WORDS:
abrupt, blunt, brusque ( brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turnedNEAR ANTONYMS:
pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated2.
not lasting for a considerable time
SYNONYMS:
brief, fast, littleRELATED WORDS:
shortish; abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, cut-back, shortened, syncopated; compact, condensed; abrupt, sudden; ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, short-lived, transient, transitory; impermanent; compendious, concise, crisp, epigrammatic, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, terse; short-range, short-termNEAR ANTONYMS:
endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, unending; longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted; permanent; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; long-range, long-term3.
lasting only for a short time
SYNONYMS:
brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitoryRELATED WORDS:
little, short, shortish; acting, interim, provisional, short-termNEAR ANTONYMS:
lifelong; continuing, durable, persistent; imperishable, indefectible, indestructible1.
a short statement of the main points
SYNONYMS:
abstract, breviary, brief, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé ( resume resumé), roundup, rundown, run-through, sum, summa, summarization, summing-up, sum-up, synopsis, wrap-upRELATED WORDS:
abbreviation, abridgment ( abridgement), compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening; simplification, streamlining; rehash, reprise; conclusion, epilogue ( epilog)NEAR ANTONYMS:
amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement2.
a specific task with which a person or group is charged
SYNONYMS:
assignment, brief, business, charge, detail, job, operation, postRELATED WORDS:
burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility; errand, labor, work; commitment, pledge, promise; appointment, commission, designation, nomination; compulsion, constraint, restraint1.
to give information to
SYNONYMS:
acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up)RELATED WORDS:
advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceiveNEAR ANTONYMS:
misinform, mislead2.
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
SYNONYMS:
abstract, boil down, brief, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, reprise, sum up, synopsize, wrap upRELATED WORDS:
abridge, condense, curtail, cut back, shorten; downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; decoct, essentialize; simplify, streamlineNEAR ANTONYMS:
elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract; amplify, elaborate (on upon), enlarge (on upon), expand, supplement