Brief life? (3)
I believe the answer is:
bio
'brief life?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for bio that I've seen before include "brief history" , "Prefix or combining form meaning of living things" , "Prefix meaning life, of living things" , "life described in print" , "Prefix denotes life" .)