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Brief vs Spot - What's the difference?

brief | spot |

As nouns the difference between brief and spot

is that brief is (legal) a writ summoning one to answer to any action while spot is a round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc and generally round in shape.

As verbs the difference between brief and spot

is that brief is to summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power while spot is to see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.

As a adjective brief

is of short duration; happening quickly.

As a adverb brief

is (obsolete|poetic) briefly.

brief

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of short duration; happening quickly.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • How brief the life of man.
  • *, chapter=10
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. }}
  • Concise; taking few words.
  • * (Ben Johnson) (1572-1637)
  • The brief style is that which expresseth much in little.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=1 citation , passage=She was like a Beardsley Salome , he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.}}
  • Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
  • * 1983 , Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers , Penguin 2009, p. 17:
  • On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks.
  • (obsolete) Rife; common; prevalent.
  • Synonyms

    * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * briefly

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (legal) A writ summoning one to answer to any action.
  • (legal) An answer to any action.
  • * 1996 The Japanese Rule of Civil Procedure, Article 79 (1):
  • A written answer or any other brief shall be submitted to the court while allowing a period necessary for the opponent to make preparations with regard to the matters stated therein.
  • (legal) A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
  • (legal) An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
  • (English law) The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
  • (informal) A short news story or report.
  • * We got a news brief .
  • * Shakespeare
  • Bear this sealed brief , / With winged haste, to the lord marshal.
  • (obsolete) A summary, or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
  • * 1589 Thomas Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie 5:
  • A survey of their follie, a briefe of their barbarisme.
  • * Overbury
  • Each woman is a brief of womankind.
  • (UK, historical) A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
  • Derived terms

    * briefs * control brief

    References

    *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.
  • The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.
  • (legal) To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.
  • Derived terms

    * briefing * brevity

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete, poetic) Briefly.
  • * Milton
  • Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief .
  • (obsolete, poetic) Soon; quickly.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    spot

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.
  • The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur.
  • A stain or disfiguring mark.
  • I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
  • A pimple, papule or pustule.
  • That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin.
    I think she's got chicken pox; she's covered in spots .
  • A small, unspecified amount or quantity.
  • Would you like to come round on Sunday for a spot of lunch?
  • (slang, US) A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars.
  • Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot''' and two five '''spots .
  • A location or area.
  • I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
    For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
  • * Milton
  • That spot to which I point is Paradise.
  • * Wordsworth
  • "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! / But something ails it now: the spot is cursed."
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
  • Yachvilli made it 6-0 with a second sweet strike from 45 metres after Matt Stevens was penalised for collapsing a scrum, and then slid another penalty just wide from the same spot .
  • A parking space.
  • *
  • (sports) An official determination of placement.
  • The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
  • A bright lamp; a spotlight.
  • (US, advertising) A brief advertisement or program segment on television.
  • Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
  • Difficult situation; predicament
  • She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
  • (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting) One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter
  • (soccer) penalty spot
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot . }}
  • The act of spotting or noticing something.
  • - You've misspelled "terrapin" here.
    ''- Whoops. Good spot .
  • A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak.
  • A food fish (Liostomus xanthurus ) of the Atlantic coast of the United States, with a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides.
  • The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail.
  • (in the plural, brokers' slang, dated) Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
  • An autosoliton.
  • Derived terms

    * on the spot * put someone on the spot * sitspot * shot spot * spot check * spot color / spot colour * spot market * spot on * spot remover * spotty * X marks the spot

    Verb

    (spott)
  • To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify
  • Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
  • (finance) To loan a small amount of money to someone.
  • I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
  • (ambitransitive) To stain; to leave a spot (on).
  • Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
    a garment spotted with mould
  • To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.
  • I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
  • (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting, climbing) To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates.
  • I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
  • (dance) To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.
  • Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
  • To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
  • My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • If ever I shall close these eyes but once, / May I live spotted for my perjury.
  • To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing.
  • Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * ----