Briefing

Military. a short, factual oral summary of the details of a current or projected military operation given to the participants or observers.
any set of concise instructions or a summary of events.
lasting or taking a short time; of short duration:
a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.
using few words; concise; succinct:
a brief report on weather conditions.
abrupt or curt.
scanty:
a brief bathing suit.
a short and concise statement or written item.
an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy:
a debater’s brief.
Law.

a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
a written argument submitted to a court.
(in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.

an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.
briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.
a briefing.
Roman Catholic Church. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope’s signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.
British Theater. a free ticket; pass.
Obsolete. a letter.
to make an abstract or summary of.
to instruct by a brief or briefing:
They brief all the agents before assigning them.
Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.
hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.
in brief, in a few words; in short:
The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.
Contemporary Examples

Sinai Harbors Terrorists Preying on Israel Dan Ephron August 17, 2011
Obama and the State Department’s Challenge in Egypt Tara McKelvey May 26, 2012
Jay Carney’s White House Debut Lloyd Grove February 15, 2011
Robert Gibbs Resigns: Behind the White House Press Secretary’s Exit Howard Kurtz January 4, 2011
How bin Laden News Was Managed Daniel Stone May 1, 2011

Historical Examples

A Yankee Flier with the R.A.F. Rutherford G. Montgomery
Breakaway Stanley Gimble
Code Three Rick Raphael
Breakaway Stanley Gimble
A Yankee Flier in Italy Rutherford G. Montgomery

noun
a meeting at which detailed information or instructions are given, as for military operations, etc
the facts presented during such a meeting
adjective
short in duration: a brief holiday
short in length or extent; scanty: a brief bikini
abrupt in manner; brusque: the professor was brief with me this morning
terse or concise; containing few words: he made a brief statement
noun
a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract
(law) a document containing all the facts and points of law of a case by which a solicitor instructs a barrister to represent a client
(RC Church) a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief
short for briefing
a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate
(Brit, slang) a lawyer, esp a barrister
hold a brief for, to argue for; champion
in brief, in short; to sum up
verb (transitive)
to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts
to make a summary or synopsis of
(English law)

to instruct (a barrister) by brief
to retain (a barrister) as counsel

(intransitive) foll by against. to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etc See also briefs
n.
adj.
n.
v.
see:

hold no brief for
in brief