【Brief】 , 【short】 are the most comprehensive adjectives in English meaning not long.
【Brief】 refers primarily to duration; 【short】 , to either duration or linear extent.
As applied to duration, 【brief】 and 【short】 are sometimes complete synonyms. But 【short】 frequently suggests incompleteness, curtailment, or sudden stoppage, and 【brief】 sometimes implies condensation.
As applied to linear extent, 【brief】 is facetious and means extremely 【short】 .