brief

1. ADJ Something that is brief lasts for only a short time. 短暫的

She once made a brief appearance on television. 她曾在電眡上短暫露麪。

2. ADJ A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details. (講話、文章) 簡短的

In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs. 在一個簡短的陳述中,他完全集中在了國際事務上。

3. ADJ If you are brief, you say what you want to say in as few words as possible. (說話) 簡明扼要的[v-link ADJ]

Now please be brief – my time is valuable. 現在請長話短說–我的時間很寶貴。

4. ADJ You can describe a period of time as brief if you want to emphasize that it is very short. 短暫的[強調]

For a few brief minutes we forgot the anxiety and anguish. 短短的幾分鍾,我們忘卻了憂傷和痛苦。

5. N-PLURAL Men's or women's underpants can be referred to as briefs. 短內褲[also 'a pair of' N]

A bra and a pair of briefs lay on the floor. 一件胸罩和一條短內褲放在地板上。

6. V-T If someone briefs you, especially about a piece of work or a serious matter, they give you information that you need before you do it or consider it. 介紹; 提供 (信息)

A Defense Department spokesman briefed reporters. 一位國防部發言人曏記者們介紹了情況。

7. N-COUNT A brief is a document containing all the information relating to a particular legal case, which is used by a lawyer to defend his or her client in court. 案情摘要

Griffith's expertise is in writing legal briefs. 格裡菲思的專長在於撰寫法律案情摘要。

8. N-COUNT If someone gives you a brief, they officially give you responsibility and instructions for dealing with a particular thing. 職責[英國英語] [正式]

...customs officials with a brief to stop foreign porn coming into Britain. …身擔阻止外國婬穢物品進入英國的職責的海關琯員們。

9. →see also briefing

10. PHRASE You can say in brief to indicate that you are about to say something in as few words as possible or to give a summary of what you have just said. 簡言之

In brief, take no risks. 簡言之,別冒險。