summary

/ˈsʌməri/

/ˈsʌməri/

Other forms: summaries

A summary gives a short overview, or the main points, of something longer. She talked for days about the 800-page romantic novel, but her boyfriend's summary was "Girl meets boy, boy meets girl, boy rides horse into sunset, girl meets new boy. The end."

Summary is a noun, and "summery" is an adjective, but they sound alike and both describe something short. A summer feels like a short piece of a long year, and a summary is a short statement about a longer piece. When a long speech or writing needs retelling in a short amount of time, a summary conveys the meaning in fewer words. Often a book cover has a summary of what's inside, and an introduction has a summary of the main points in a chapter.

Definitions of summary

1. noun

   a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form
   “he gave a summary of the conclusions”

   synonyms: sum-up

   types:

   argument, literary argument

   a summary of the subject or plot of a literary work or play or movie

   capitulation

   a summary that enumerates the main parts of a topic

   compendium

   a concise but comprehensive summary of a larger work

   abridgement, abridgment, capsule, condensation

   a shortened version of a written work

   conspectus

   an overall summary

   CV, curriculum vitae, resume

   a summary of your academic and work history

   line score

   a summary of the scoring in a game (usually in tabular form)

   abstract, outline, precis, synopsis

   a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory

   overview

   a general summary of a subject

   roundup

   a summary list; as in e.g. "a news roundup"

   resume, sketch, survey

   short descriptive summary (of events)

   rundown, summation, summing up

   a concluding summary (as in presenting a case before a law court)

   syllabus

   a summary or outline of what will be covered in an academic course

   brief

   a condensed written summary or abstract

   apercu

   a short synopsis

   epitome

   a brief abstract (as of an article or book)

   recap, recapitulation, review

   a summary at the end that repeats the substance of a longer discussion

   type of:

   statement

   a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
2. adjective

   briefly giving the gist of something
   “a summary formulation of a wide-ranging subject”

   synonyms: compact, compendious, succinct

   breviloquent, concise

   expressing much in few words
3. adjective

   performed speedily and without formality
   “summary justice”

   synonyms: drumhead

   unofficial

   not having official authority or sanction