briefs

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See also: Briefs

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
A pair of men's briefs

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)
  • IPA(key): /bɹiːfs/
  • Rhymes: -iːfs

Noun

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briefs

  1. plural of brief

Noun

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briefs pl (plural only)

  1. (usually in the plural) A very short, close-fitting type of underpants.
    • 2008, Dan Peek, Why Do They Dress That Way?: People’s Place Book No. 7, page 80:
      Briefs for men and women were not popular in America until the 1930s.
    • 2012, Dan Stephenson, The Underwater Widow:
      Yes, Gentlemen’s Quarterly wrote that Archie wears briefs, like it was something everyone wanted to know.
  2. Swim briefs.
    • 2012, Luis Algorri, You’ll Hear From Me: A Gay Story about Passion and Love:
      I fetched my briefs, pulled them on, and we left the changing room.
  3. (chiefly Australia, informal) Male underpant bikini briefs.
    • 2012, Joe Tog, Aussie Prison Breaks: Not All Escapees Are Desperados:
      Galvanised, I jumped--the clatter of keys rang clear as I thrust the knife, handle down, into the back of my briefs.

Usage notes

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Despite being a single item of clothing, briefs—like pants, trousers, underpants, &c.—are considered to come in "pairs" and are counted using the phrase "pair(s) of".

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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briefs

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of brief

Anagrams

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