ブリーフ
解説 Definition
briefs は brief の複数形で、下着の「ブリーフ」を指す名詞です。通常は左右の脚を長く覆わない、体にぴったりした下着について使います。
Briefs are close-fitting underpants that do not extend far down the legs. The plural form is commonly used for the garment, often in expressions such as “a pair of briefs.”
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
briefs はこの語義では脚を長く覆わない体に密着する下着を指し、形は brief + 複数語尾 -s。発音は /briːfs/ で、語末は無声音 /s/ になる。a pair of briefs、three pairs of briefs のように pair と組み合わせる言い方を覚え、書類の briefs という別義と区別する。
For this clothing sense, connect briefs with brief meaning “short”: the garment covers the body but has no long legs. The form is the plural of brief, made by adding -s, and it is pronounced /briːfs/ with final /s/. Learn the natural counting pattern a pair of briefs or three pairs of briefs, since English commonly treats the garment as a plural item. Context separates this meaning from legal or informational briefs, which are concise documents or summaries rather than underwear.
例文
He bought three pairs of briefs.
彼はブリーフを3枚買いました。
These briefs are made of soft cotton.
このブリーフは柔らかい綿でできています。
The store sells briefs in several sizes.
その店ではいくつかのサイズのブリーフを売っています。
briefs の類義語・関連語
briefs の語源・成り立ち Etymology
briefs は brief「短い」の複数形で、語源はラテン語 brevis「短い」です。丈の短い下着を指す語になり、brief が「要点だけ」の意味になるのも同じ発想です。関連語は brevity、abbreviate です。
Briefs is the plural of brief. Brief comes through French from Latin brevis, meaning “short.” The adjective developed senses involving short duration or limited length, and the noun briefs was later applied to short, close-fitting underpants that do not cover much of the legs. The same historical idea of shortness also underlies brief as a concise statement and related words such as brevity and abbreviate.
同じレベルの語彙をもっと
外部辞書で調べる
この英単語をクイズで覚えよう